Open Monuments Days

Once a year in September we have the "Open Monuments Days" in our country. You can pay a visit to buildings that mostly ar not open for public or visitors. We visited the RAS Synagoge/Sjoel, named after chief rabbi Rav Aaron Schuster in Amsterdam. The building dates from 1928 and the architect Elte was inspired by Dutch architect Dudok and American Frank Lloyd Wright.

The interior has Art Deco elements.

With 7 stained glass windows which symbolize the 7 days of the of creation.

Beautiful decorated pillars.

Against the eastwall of the Synagoge is the cupboard containing the five parchment Thora scrolls.

At the left above  the women's gallery.

The entrance seen from the other side with certainly Frank Lloyd Wright influences.
Linking to "Our World Tuesday"

Skywatch

The Portuguese Synagogue is a late 17th-century Sephardic synagogue in Amsterdam, completed in 1675. The Amsterdam Sephardic community was one of the largest and richest Jewish communities in Europe during the Dutch Golden Age, and their very large synagogue reflected this. It still remains an active place of worship.

Linking to "Skywatch Friday"

Portugese Synagogue

The Portugese Synagogue in Amsterdam has a smaller so callled "Winter synagogue". Because the big building is not heated it is freezing cold in winter. So this smaller one was more comfortable in winter.

The (Portugese) names of the members can be seen on the walls.

This is the Synagogue from the outside.The colossal building dates from 1672 and dominated from the beginning the environment, and still does.It was when it was finished the largest synagogue in the world. It is the only synagogue with Prague that so long fulfills its original function.

It is extremely rare that the current interior largely dates from the construction period and remained including the brass candelabra and holders. The interior has never been adapted to modern times so it has no heating and no electric lights. Nearly 1000 candles are used to illuminate the interior.

Shining Ornaments

This is the treasure room in the basement of the Portugese Synagogue in Amsterdam. The collection includes 43 pairs of silver and gilded ornamental towers which are placed on top of the Torah scrolls.

They are fabricated by late seventeenth and eighteenth century Dutch silversmiths.

Often the pinnacles are decorated with coats of arms and monograms referring to the donors.

Here an example of the Torah scrolls with the ornaments on top.

Linking to Weekend Reflections.

Synagogue

A fence in the Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam at the women gallery. Men and women are in the Jewish religious service sitting separated and the women sit above behind this fence.

Here you have an overview of the synagogue and the gallery.

Linking to "Good Fences"

The Portugese Synagoge

In 1492 Spain expelled its Jewish population. Many who fled to Portugal were nevertheless forcibly baptized after 1496. More than 100 years later, their descendants -victims of the inquisition who wished to live as Jews- began to arrive in Amsterdam. At that time the Dutch Republic was at war with Spain, so to avoid being identified with the Spanish enemy, these refugees called themselves "Portugese Jews".

This Synagoge is built between 1671-1675 and amazingly not destroyed during WWII. There have been some restorations in 1852 and 1955 and it looks very authentic. The deal floor is covered with fine sand -in the old Dutch fashion- to absorb dust, moisture and dirt from shoes and to muffle the noise.

Look at he beautiful wooden ceiling.

The courtyard almost looks like an old village square. I had never been inside here before and was very impressed by its beauty. You can read more about the history here.