“Sinagoga(Synagogue) Israelita da Lapa”- The Bezalel Narkiss Index of Jewish Art

“Sinagoga(Synagogue) Israelita da Lapa”

District: Lapa- São Paulo Brazil

Location: George Schmidt Street, 185 - since 1953

Foundation of the "Israeli Synagogue Society of Lapa": 12 October 1941

Theodor Herzl Brazilian Jewish School - started in 1961, and after a period joined the Chaim Nachman Bialik Brazilian Jewish School

Project: built by “Construtora Corazza & Novelleto Ltda”. Designer and Technical Manager:  Pedro Corazza

Description of the building:

The building of this synagogue has the same configuration, format and similar design of the other synagogues of the same period. A small courtyard, bordered by a wall and a gate, separates the street from the synagogue building. The entrance to the internal space of the synagogue is possible through a hall and a side door, which leads to the male sector. The male sector is formed by a central corridor and lateral benches. 

These benches, made of wood and very well preserved, have the same pattern as the synagogues built in this period. Maguen David are carved on the sides of these benches. They have niches to keep the prayer books, such as Sidurim and Machzorim. Had they been made by the same carpenter? I have not yet found any information regarding this detail. There are also no “metal plaques” in these banks with the names of the regulars, as we have seen in other synagogues. 

At the end of the corridor is the  Bimah, on the same floor, and Aron Hakoseh at the front. Access to the upper floor, where the female sector is located, is possible by a staircase. The women's sector has a small wall that allows visibility to the male sector. Windows with rounded top edges are located on one side of the building. The upper front windows correspond to the women's floor there is a round window with a Maguen David. Unlike the Cambuci and Brás synagogue, it does not have the Mazalót painted inside the synagogue.

Current state:

Nowadays, men and women occupy the ground floor, sitting men on the right and women on the left. The wooden door, former access to the synagogue building, is no longer used. The building is very well maintained, and the synagogue maintains the prayers of Cabalat Shabbat every two months. The school has been disabled, but the synagogue is still active, performing the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kipur ceremonies every year. 

We can verify that this synagogue, internally, followed the same constructive pattern and format of the synagogues already divulged: the masculine sector was in the lower hall, the feminine sector in the upper floor. Side arched windows with matching arches at the top, along the upper floor. A cabinet against the wall of the side entrance was the Aron Hakodesh at the time when the goers prayed in a small synagogues on Guaicurus Street, before the construction of the building of this synagogue. 

This synagogue, which we can still see today, is an example of the art in the synagogues, which covers the details of the wooden benches, the "Ner Tamid", the fabric cover of Aron Hacodesh (Paróchet), the Menorah which Torót kept carefully. We also note the plaque that identify the board and fiscal council that built this synagogue.

Comments on the photos:

Two lions flank the Ten Commandments Tablets, situated on the wooden Aron Hakodesh, Blue Paróchet with embroidery, Bimah, on the same floor, in wood, Menorah, Window with Maguen David, Old entrance door, Women's sector, Aron Hakodesh, Wooden benches with side detail of Maguen David, The synagogue building