THE
WESTERN FACADE
Following
the tradition of the Great Synagogue of Amsterdam, our forefathers searched
for and found an appropriate Biblical verse to engrave over the lintel
of their SNOA. They chose, and inscribed in brass letters on a dark blue
background, the following text from Genesis 9:27 BISHNAT YAFT ELOHIM L’YEFET
VEYISHKON B’OHALEY SHEM (May God enlarge Jafeth and may he dwell in the
tents of Shem). They based their choice on two things: firstly, that the
second word YAFT represents the Hebrew numerical equivalent for 490 and
secondly, according to Rabbi Emmanuel, that the Jews, (represented by SHEM)
were granted religious freedom and protection under the Dutch Government
(JAFETH).
Paying
close attention to the lintel, one notes that the second word (the letters
YOD, PE and TAV) is not only larger than the rest, but also has a mark
above
each letter.
These marks denote that the letters are also to be understood as numerals and, as numerals, add up to 490, a standard way of indicating the Hebrew year 5490 (the secular year 1730)- the year when the corner stones were laid for this, our fourth Synagogue in town.
These marks denote that the letters are also to be understood as numerals and, as numerals, add up to 490, a standard way of indicating the Hebrew year 5490 (the secular year 1730)- the year when the corner stones were laid for this, our fourth Synagogue in town.
Our
forefathers also found an ingenious way to solve their dilemma of not writing
God’s name: the third word in the verse on the lintel. The right-most,
or first letter of the third word, is not a non-existent Hebrew letter,
but a purposely malformed combination of the letters ALEF and LAMED, the
first two Hebrew letters in the word ELOHIM (God), the word they were not
allowed to write! Our forefathers further demonstrated their joy at being able to worship God in complete freedom, by choosing a second verse (Psalms 26:12) to adorn the sides of the arch of their sanctuary door. This Hebrew text, also in brass letters on a dark blue background, reads B’MAKHELIM AVAREYCH ADONAI (In the congregations, I will bless the Lord).
A
wide courtyard, paved with old, Spanish-style, grey and white marble tiles
- leads to the entrance of the Synagogue. Although this courtyard surrounds
the entire building, it is at its widest on this side of the building.
At either side of the entrance, are two of the four pillars which conceal
the rain water drains which allow the excess water to spill down from the
roof and onto the courtyard below without damaging the walls. Except for
the addition of two similar drainage pillars at the corners in 1894, the
changing of the windows at least twice and the addition of the antechamber
at the northwestern corner, the writers have found no evidence of any other
major changes to this façade since the 1732 inauguration.
Some
drastic changes did however occur to the interior of this wall during the
renovations of 1866-1868 in preparation for the installation of the organ.
At the completion of the earlier renovation, Mose Curiel, in a letter to
the PARNASSIM dated August 10, 1870, offered to donate two new, beautiful
mahogany doors to replace the worn-out entrance doors, as there were no
funds left after the renovation for this purpose. The offer, as confirmed
by the two silver plaques still attached to the doors today (ANNO 1870),
was gladly accepted and, as requested by Mr. Curiel, the doors were inaugurated
during ROSH HASHANAH services, 1870. (RDLM)
| Punda
The Building Begins | Construction of Our "Snoa" |
|
|
|
All Rights Reserved. |
