visual moment
IMAGES COURTESY OF SYNAGOGUES: MARVELS OF JUDAISM, BY LEYLA ULUHANLI © RIZZOLI NEW YORK, 2021; © AMIT GERON; © AGA KHAN TRUST FOR CULTURE
The spiral-shaped exterior of the Scroll of Light Synagogue in Caesarea features controlled fissures that allow for interior illumination and encourage meditation on the role of light and the progression of time. The synagogue was built in the town of Caesarea on Israel’s Mediterranean coast in 2007.
A number of Jewish merchants and leather artisans migrated from the Near East along the Silk Road, arriving in Afghanistan as early as the 7th century CE. The Yu Aw Synagogue in Herat was built in 1393 and restored in 2007. The main sanctuary centers on a chahartaq (four-arch) structure with painted floral medallions reminiscent of Safavid dynasty design (1501-1736). The mihrab-shaped niches and low bimah are traditional to the region, as are the rugs, which serve as seating. The design reflects the lives of Jews in a non-Jewish world. Local Islamic law prevented construction of new synagogues without the permission of local leaders, who wanted to ensure they didn’t compete with local mosques in size or ornamentation. SPRING ISSUE 2022 | MOMENT
Visual Moment_spring22-v13.indd 27
27
3/28/22 4:10 PM
