The 5 Oldest Synagogues in the World

Though synagogues are a central feature of Jewish life nowadays, that wasn't always the case. In the time of the Temple, the Temple was the center of Jewish worship. The Divine Presence rested there, and people came to offer sacrifices and seek purification. Since the destruction of the First Temple and the onset of the Babylonian exile though, synagogues became the central place for prayer, replacing the sacrificial service of the Temple.

The first mention of synagogues appears in the prophet Yirmiyahu: "And the Chaldeans burned the king's house and the houses of the people with fire" (Chapter 39, Verse 8), and Rashi qualifies that 'houses of the people' refers to synagogues. The synagogue is also referred to as a 'small sanctuary,' as the prophet Yechezkel states: "I have been for them a small sanctuary" (Yechezkel 11:16), and the Divine Presence dwells there.

Many synagogues were destroyed and demolished over time, and archaeological discoveries in various regions point to their existence. Remnants of many ancient synagogues have been discovered in Israel. There are also ancient synagogues around the world that have survived. Some have been transformed into museums of Jewish culture, while others still serve as Jewish houses of worship today.

1. The 'Ben Ezra' Synagogue. This synagogue is located in Cairo, Egypt. It was built more than 1,000 years ago from 882 to 892 CE. About 130 years ago, the synagogue was completely renovated, and an ancient genizah room was discovered in the attic, which contained over 100,000 Jewish manuscripts and books. This discovery led to a revolution in the study of Jewish history. Most of the documents were transferred for research to the Cambridge University Library in England.

The 'Ben Ezra' Synagogue, Egypt (Photo: shutterstock)

2. The Old Synagogue. This synagogue is located in Erfurt, Germany. The oldest parts of the building were constructed in 1094 CE, though most parts of the building were built around 1300 CE. About 20 years ago, the city council began research and preservation work, and today it serves as a museum of Jewish history. It houses a collection of jewelry, coins, and Hebrew manuscripts dating from the 12th to the 14th centuries. Among the manuscripts is the 'Erfurt Manuscript' – the oldest manuscript of the Tosefta text (the Tosefta contains teachings of the Tannaim not included in the Mishnah).

3. Jews' Court. This synagogue is located in Lincoln (Lincolnshire County) in England and was in use from 1180 CE. In 1255 CE, local residents accused Jews of a blood libel and claimed that the Jews of the city had murdered a young child for ritual purposes. About 35 years later, as antisemitism continued to rise, the entire Jewish community was expelled from England. Today, the building serves as the headquarters of the Lincolnshire Historical and Archaeological Society.

4. The 'Ibn Shushan' Synagogue. This synagogue is located in Toledo in central Spain. It was built in 1180 CE and was in use until the 14th century. At one point, it was proposed that the State of Israel would purchase the synagogue for the Jewish community of Toledo, in exchange for transferring ownership of the 'Room of the Last Supper' to the Church, but the deal was not completed. Today, the building is owned by the Church despite pleas from Toledo's Jews that this building belongs to the Jewish people.

5. The Major Synagogue. This synagogue is located in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, Spain. The synagogue's existence can be traced back to the 13th century, though some believe it was built in the 4th century, during Roman rule, on account of findings in the synagogue that belong to that period. The synagogue served the Jewish community until the expulsion from Spain, after which it was abandoned. About 30 years ago, the synagogue was rediscovered and underwent restoration work. Today, it serves as a museum and a synagogue.