>Tom.Reding at 17:20, 16 April 2021

2021-04-16T17:20:32Z

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox religious building
|building_name=Gate of Mercy Synagogue<hr/>Juni Masjid
|image=Gate of Mercy Synagogue 3.jpg
|caption= Picture of the Synagogue in Mumbai
| map_type = Mumbai
| map_size = 270
| map_caption = Location of Gate of Mercy synagogue in Mumbai
|coordinates = {{coord|18.95226|72.836373|display=inline,title}}
| location = 254, Samuel Street<br>[[South Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]]<br>{{flag|India}}
|religious_affiliation=[[Orthodox Judaism]]
|rite=[[Sephardic Judaism|Sephardic]]
|district=[[Konkan]]
|status=Active
|consecration_year= 1796
|leadership=Samaji Hasaji Divekar
|website=
|architecture_type=
|architecture_style=
|facade_direction=
|year_completed=1796
|construction_cost=
|architect=
|capacity=300
|length=
|width=
|width_nave=
|height_max=
|dome_quantity=
|dome_height_outer=
|dome_height_inner=
|dome_dia_outer=
|dome_dia_inner=
|minaret_quantity=
|minaret_height=
|spire_quantity=
|spire_height=
|materials=
}}

The '''Gate of Mercy Synagogue''' ([[Marathi language|Marathi]]: '''दयेचे द्वार'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-hidden-history-2017963|title=Hidden history|date=2014-09-12|website=dna|language=en|access-date=2019-01-24}}</ref> '''/ जुनी मशिद'''), [[Hebrew]]: '''שער הרחמים''') (also known as '''Shaar Harahamim''' and '''Juni Masjid''' is the oldest synagogue in [[Mumbai]], India.<ref name="rediff">{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/sep/11spec.htm|title=For these Jews, Mumbai is the chosen land|last=Masih|first=Archana|date=2003-09-11|work=The Rediff Special|publisher=Rediff.com|access-date=2008-08-11}}</ref> The synagogue was built in 1796<ref name="indiansynogogues">{{cite web|url=http://www.haruth.com/AsianIndiaSynagogues.html|title=Indian Synagogues|work=Jewish India|access-date=2008-08-11}}</ref> by Samaji Hasaji Divekar (also known as Samuel Ezekiel), a [[Bene Israel]]i, near [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus|CSMT]] in [[South Mumbai]]. The synagogue was later rebuilt and moved to the present location at [[Mandvi, Mumbai|Mandvi]] in 1860.<ref name="mmdu">{{cite web|url=http://mdmu.maharashtra.gov.in/pages/Mumbai/bwardplanShow.php|title=Mumbai B Ward Plan|publisher=Department of Relief and Rehabilitation, Government of Maharashtra|access-date=2008-08-11|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908053430/http://mdmu.maharashtra.gov.in/pages/Mumbai/bwardplanShow.php|archive-date=2008-09-08}}</ref> In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the area was inhabited by a small but thriving [[Judaism in India|Jewish community]].<ref name="israel-goldstein" />

The local appellation of the synagogue, ''Juni Masjid'', lends itself to the nearby [[Central Railway (India)|Central railway]] station, [[Masjid Bunder]].<ref name="Datta">{{cite news |last1=Datta |first1=Rangan |title=Inside the synagogues of Mumbai |url=https://www.forbesindia.com/article/forbes-lifes/inside-the-synagogues-of-mumbai/63125/1 |access-date=21 January 2021 |date=3 October 2020}}</ref> Despite a fall in numbers, the synagogue still maintains active services such as a 6<small>AM</small> service. It serves a congregation of about a hundred members daily.<ref name="mmdu" /> The synagogue is also featured on heritage and religious tours of the city.<ref name="indiansynogogues" />

==History==
According to historical accounts, Samuel Divekar and his brother Issac, served in the [[British East India]]n army as officers. During the [[Anglo-Mysore Wars]], they were captured by the [[Mysore kingdom|Mysore]] king [[Tipu Sultan]]. They were about to be condemned to death, when Tipu Sultan asked what caste they belonged to. The brothers mentioned that they were Bene Israel. Having never heard of the group, Tipu was about to condemn them to death, when his mother intervened, mentioning that she had heard of the name of the 'caste' in the [[Koran]]. Tipu, a devout Muslim spared the two brothers and later exchanged them for a prisoner swap with the British. The two brothers returned to the British enclave of Bombay (now renamed to Mumbai) and built the synagogue in thanksgiving.<ref name="israel-goldstein">{{cite book|last=Goldstein|first=Israel|title=My World as a Jew|publisher=Associated University Presses|year=1984|isbn=0-8453-4780-2}}</ref>

On 2 April 1919, the synagogue convened a public meeting of Bene Israeli on the subject of [[Zionism]]. Over 350 community members attended, and many were sympathetic to the cause of setting up of an independent homeland of Palestine though the debate sparked off deep debate on the subject.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rowland|first=Joan G.|title=The Jewish Communities of India: Identity in a Colonial Era|publisher=Transaction Publishers|year=1008|isbn=0-7658-0439-5}}</ref><ref name="Datta"/>

==Structure==
The structure can accommodate 300 members, and on [[High Holy Days]] it had large congregations attending. However, on ''[[Shabbat]]'', not more than 50 attended services. There is also a [[mikvah]] (bath) present nearby for the religious to purify themselves.<ref name="israel-goldstein" />

==See also==
*[[Judaism in India]]
*[[Synagogues in India]]
*[[Bene Israel]]
*[[Knesset Eliyahoo]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1796 establishments in British India]]
[[Category:Bene Israel]]
[[Category:Orthodox Judaism in India]]
[[Category:Orthodox synagogues]]
[[Category:Rebuilt buildings and structures in India]]
[[Category:Religious buildings and structures completed in 1796]]
[[Category:Sephardi synagogues]]
[[Category:Sephardi Jewish culture in India]]
[[Category:Synagogues completed in the 1790s]]
[[Category:Synagogues in Mumbai]]

Gate of Mercy Synagogue - Revision history

>Tom.Reding at 17:20, 16 April 2021