Maghen Abraham Synagogue, Beirut

The Maghen Abraham Synagogue in Beirut stands as a significant historical and cultural landmark. Established in 1925 and funded by Moise Abraham Sassoon of Calcutta, the synagogue was named after his father, Abraham Sassoon. The construction of this religious site on land donated by Isaac Mann was under the architectural guidance of Bindo Manham, with Ezra Benjamin and Joseph Balayla overseeing the project. It was built in the Jewish district of Wadi Abu Jamil in downtown Beirut, a neighborhood that was once vibrant with Jewish life.

Throughout the mid-20th century, the synagogue was not just a place of worship but also served as a community center where Torah and scientific lectures, as well as weddings and festive events, were held. During its heyday in the 1950s and 1960s, Beirut was home to sixteen synagogues, and the Jewish community, numbering around 14,000 after the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, enjoyed equal rights with other minorities.

However, the Lebanese Civil War, which began in 1975, brought severe challenges. The synagogue was damaged by Israeli bombardment in 1976, leading to the displacement of many Jewish families and significant structural damage, including the destruction of two marble tablets representing the Ten Commandments. In the same year, Joseph Farhi transferred the Torah scrolls to Geneva for safekeeping under the care of Edmond Safra, a renowned Jewish-Lebanese banker.

Despite years of neglect, a major renovation initiative began in May 2009. By August 2010, the restoration efforts were close to completion, restoring the synagogue's former splendor, as reported by Haaretz. The renovated building was then briefly enjoyed before suffering minor damages in the 2020 Beirut explosions.

Maghen Abraham Synagogue is not only a testament to the resilience of the Lebanese Jewish community but also maintains its connections globally, with a daughter synagogue, Congregation Maghen Abraham, established in Canada.