Tiféret Israel Synagogue

{{For|similarly named synagogues|Tifereth Israel (disambiguation){{!}}Tifereth Israel}}

{{Infobox religious building

| name = Tiféret Israel Synagogue

| native_name = {{ubl|{{langx|he|בית הכנסת תפארת ישראל}}|{{langx|es|Sinagoga Tiféret Israel}}}}

| native_name_lang =

| image = Synagogue of Caracas.jpg

| image_upright = 1.4

| alt =

| caption = The synagogue and head office of the Israelite Association of Venezuela, in 2007

| map_type = Venezuela Caracas

| map_size = 250

| map_alt =

| map_relief = 1

| map_caption = Location of the synagogue in Caracas

| coordinates = {{Coord|10.4990|-66.8883|type:landmark_region:VE|format=dms|display=it}}

| coordinates_footnotes =

| religious_affiliation = Orthodox Judaism

| rite = Nusach Sefard

| locale =

| location = El Recreo, Plaza Venezuela, Caracas

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| country = Venezuela

| administration =

| organisational_status = Synagogue

| functional_status = Active

| heritage_designation =

| ownership = Israelite Association of Venezuela

| leadership =

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| groundbreaking = 1956

| year_completed = 1963

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}}

The Tiféret Israel Synagogue ({{langx|he|בית הכנסת תפארת ישראל}}; {{langx|es|Sinagoga Tiféret Israel}}) is a Jewish synagogue located in El Recreo, close to Plaza Venezuela in Caracas, capital of Venezuela. It is also the headquarters of the Israelite Association of Venezuela.

History

In 1954, the Sephardic Jewish community of Caracas reached an agreement to buy private land in Maripérez, Caracas, in order to build a synagogue to replace the one located in the El Conde area, which had to be demolished as part of the construction of the Bolivar Avenue, the main highway during that time.{{fact|date=October 2024}} Finally in 1956 the first stone was laid; the synagogue was formally inaugurated and opened to the public in 1963, and since then has served as a religious temple for the Jewish community of Caracas.{{fact|date=October 2024}}

= 2009 attack =

In late January 2009, the synagogue was badly damaged in a well-organized attack,{{cite news |title=Grupo armado asalta una sinagoga en Caracas |url=http://www.noticias24.com/actualidad/noticia/23725/grupo-irregular-destroza-sede-de-la-asociacion-israelita-de-venezuela/ |work=EFE |accessdate=22 August 2014 |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826114234/http://www.noticias24.com/actualidad/noticia/23725/grupo-irregular-destroza-sede-de-la-asociacion-israelita-de-venezuela/ |archive-date=26 August 2014}} following escalating tensions between the Israeli and Venezuelan governments after the Gaza–Israel conflict of 2008–2009.{{cite news |date=6 January 2009 |title=Venezuela Expels Israeli Envoy After Gaza Invasion |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aOeqjeBHkTx0&refer=latin_america |work=Bloomberg |access-date=22 August 2014}} The attack followed an article inciting anti-Semitic violence, which appeared (later removed, and replaced by an apology) on a government website.

{{cite news |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090206/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_venezuela_anti_semitism |title=Venezuela's Jews fear more attacks |work=Yahoo News |date=2008-06-02 |access-date= }}{{cite news |url=http://deportes.eluniversal.com/2009/01/31/pol_ava_grupo-armado-causa-d_31A2211363.shtml |title=Grupo armado causa destrozos en la Asociación Israelita de Venezuela |work=El Universal |lang=es |date=2009-02-01 |access-date= }}{{cite news |url=http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304645657&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter |title=Synagogue in Venezuela vandalized |work=Jerusalem Post |date=2009-02-01 |access-date= }} An armed gang consisting of 15 unidentified men broke into the synagogue, tied and gagged security guards and occupied the building for several hours.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7863356.stm |title=Synagogue desecrated in Venezuela |work=BBC News |date=2009-02-01 |access-date= }} Anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli graffiti was daubed on the walls{{cite web |url=http://www.caiv.org/galerias.php?gale_seccion=Atentado%20contra%20la%20AIV&id=43 |title=Images |work=Confederación de Asociaciones Israelitas de Venezuela |date=2009-02-01 |access-date= }} and the synagogue office and Holy Ark were ransacked. They also called for Jews to be expelled from the country. Venezuela's Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro condemned the act as a "criminal act of vandalism". The Information Minister Jesse Chacón also condemned the attack and denied it had any connection with the government. Three former policemen and three civilians were found guilty and sentenced to ten years in jail.{{cite news |date=23 July 2011 |title=MP logró condena de 10 años para 3 ex policías y 3 civiles por robo a Sinagoga en Caracas |url=http://www.ministeriopublico.gob.ve/web/guest/informacion;jsessionid=87269E031B94145EDDE584E9D71E65F7?p_p_id=101_INSTANCE_CZf9&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=maximized&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=column-3&p_p_col_pos=1&p_p_col_count=2&_101_INSTANCE_CZf9_struts_action=%2Fasset_publisher%2Fview_content&_101_INSTANCE_CZf9_urlTitle=mp-logro-condena-de-6-personas-por-robo-a-la-sinagoga&_101_INSTANCE_CZf9_type=content&redirect=%2Fweb%2Fguest%2Finformacion |publisher=Ministerio de Justicia |access-date=22 August 2014 |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826120642/http://www.ministeriopublico.gob.ve/web/guest/informacion;jsessionid=87269E031B94145EDDE584E9D71E65F7?p_p_id=101_INSTANCE_CZf9&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=maximized&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=column-3&p_p_col_pos=1&p_p_col_count=2&_101_INSTANCE_CZf9_struts_action=%2Fasset_publisher%2Fview_content&_101_INSTANCE_CZf9_urlTitle=mp-logro-condena-de-6-personas-por-robo-a-la-sinagoga&_101_INSTANCE_CZf9_type=content&redirect=%2Fweb%2Fguest%2Finformacion |archive-date=26 August 2014}}

References

External links

Category:20th-century synagogues in South America

Category:21st-century attacks on Jewish institutions

Category:Buildings and structures in Caracas

Category:Sephardi Jewish culture in Venezuela

Category:Sephardi synagogues

Category:Synagogues completed in 1963

Category:Synagogues in Venezuela

Category:Tourist attractions in Caracas

Tiféret Israel Synagogue

History

= 2009 attack =

See also

References

External links