Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue

Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue
Basic information
Location	85, 26th Street Yangon, Burma
Affiliation	Orthodox Judaism
Rite	Edot Hamizrach
Year consecrated	1896
Status	Preserved
Heritage designation	1996
Leadership	Moses Samuels

Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue is the last remaining Jewish house of worship in Downtown Yangon and Burma's only synagogue. The colonial relic stands nestled between Indian paint shops and Muslim traders on a small street near the city center. A plaque at the entrance of the building states that the present stone building which was built between 1893 – 1896 replaced an earlier, smaller wooden structure that was erected in 1854.^[1] It is one of 188 sites on the Yangon City Development Council’s list of Heritage Buildings. ^[2] It serves the around 45 Jews of the country - mostly descendants of Sephardic Jewish Iraqis.

History

The synagogue was built for the increasing numbers of Baghdadi Jews from the Middle East, and Bene Israel and Cochini Jews from India arriving during Burma's Colonial era. The plot of land was granted by the British Colonial Government and following Burma’s independence, an extension was granted by the Burma authorities. ^[2]

Before the outbreak of the Second World War, the community numbered 2,500 persons. Many Jews left during the subsequent Japanese occupation and more followed after the Burmese army seized power in 1962. The community once had 126 Sifrei Torah. A second synagogue, Beth El, was opened in 1932, and some 700 graves are found in the well-kept cemetery on 91st Street.

During Cyclone Nargis in May 2008, the synagogue lost its roof and sustained water damage.^[3]

The current Jewish population of Yangon is about 20 people.

References

1. ^ Photographers Direct: The Jewish Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue
2. ^ ^{a b} Howley, Kerry (February 15, 2004). "Most Jews long gone, historic synagogue remains". Myanmar Times: Volume 11 , No.203. http://www.myanmar.gov.mm/myanmartimes/no203/MyanmarTimes11-203/025.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-03. 
3. ^ Schwartz, Jason (2008-05-15). "Aid effort for Myanmar Jews". Jewish Tribune, London. p. 19. 

External links

• Nehardea: Journal of the Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center. "A Visit to Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue in Yangon (Rangoon)"
• Myanmar's Jews live in fear; Ynetnews; October 3, 2007
• Myanmar Jews count on tourism; globeandmail.com; December 2, 2006
• Burma Last Jews Struggling to Preserve Synagogue; BurmaNet News; November 27, 1995

Photographs

• Jewish Virtual Library: Synagogues of the World - Myanmar (Burma)

Further reading

• Cernea, Ruth Almost Englishmen: Baghdadi Jews in British Burma, Lexington Books (2007)