This synagogue was built in 1898 by Ilber and Beardwood Architects. It was the first synagogue erected in Pretoria, but was eventually converted into a high court where profile hearings and court cases took place. Historians note that only the front of the building has Byzantine features, so perhaps the architects ran into financial troubles partway through the project.
Source: Smugmug.com
This synagogue dates back to the 17th century and was built by a wealthy merchant from a nearby town. The building is seemingly simple, but it has a painted beamed ceiling that takes visitors by surprise, and lovely blue Moroccan tiles.
Source: Cemeteryscribes.com
The ancient El Ghriba Synagogue is on the Tunisian island of Djerba. Many Tunisian Jews make a yearly pilgrimage to this site, about a month after Passover. It sits in the village of Hara Seghira, which is rich with Jewish culture.
Source: Georgetown.edu
The Grande Synagogue is thought to have been built between 1933 and 1938. It’s located in the historic Jewish neighborhood of Lafayette. It’s the setting for most Jewish-related demonstrations or events in the area.
Source: Maven.co.il
Zarzis Synagogue is situated in the coastal town of Zarzis and was built around 1900. The synagogue has seen a lot of turmoil. When it was built, there were about 1,000 Jews in the region. In 1982, the synagogue was attacked by local Arabs, leaving many of the Torah scrolls destroyed. It was rebuilt but now the town’s Jewish community has dwindled down to around 100.
Source: Mic.com
Moknine is a town and commune in the Monastir Governorate in Tunisia. This is an abandoned and dilapidated synagogue in the commune. Little is known about it, but many take note of its Spanish features in the arches and Mediterranean tiles. It attracts photographers of ruins from around the world.
Source: Gallery.ca
This is a deserted synagogue in the riverside town of Azemmour, formerly colonized by Portugal. It’s rather charming in its simplicity, and is surrounded by a very bright, Portuguese-inspired neighborhood with salmon and white stucco rooftops and bright blue doorways.
Source: Virtualtourist.com
The Stellenbosch Synagogue is situated on the charming Ryneveld Street, known for trendy cafes, boutique shops, and this nearly 100-year-old house of worship. The synagogue holds regular services, and has a popular Sabbath service on Friday nights. The synagogue also serves as a social place for the small Jewish community in this town. Stellenbosch was founded in 1679 and is now the center of South Africa’s wine industry.
Source: Sun.ac.za
The Eliyahu Hanavi (Elijah the Prophet) Synagogue was built in 1354, and bombed in the late 1700s during the French invasion of Egypt. When it was rebuilt in 1850, the Muhammad Ali Dynasty was active. You can see some Arab features on the façade, particularly the details in the front major window. It is closed today. According to ancient tradition, the prophet appears at every Passover seder.
Source: Gatestoneinstitute.org
Local legend has it that this synagogue is on the spot where baby Moses was born. The land for the building was first purchased by a man from Jerusalem, and it has great historic significance in Judaism. In the 19th century, ancient Hebrew manuscripts were found in the store room of this synagogue.
Source: Sacred-destinations.com
This was one of the first synagogues built in Algeria almost 2,600 years ago. In 1962 the Algerian Jewish community consisted of 150,000 people, mainly descendants of Jews who fled the devastation of Jerusalem in 930 B.C. Algeria saw an increase in the Jewish population when Jews fled the Spanish Inquisition. The Jewish population has seen a lot of turmoil since then, including French colonization and anti-semitism during World War II. Their numbers have dwindled significantly, and many temples have been destroyed.
Sources: Newyorkjewishguide.com, casbah-algeria
The Great Synagogue of Cape Town was built in 1905 and sits next to the Jewish Museum in Cape Town, amongst stunning gardens. Designed by Cape Town architects, the synagogue has vibrant stained glass windows, and two enormous towers.
Source: Gardensshul.org
