Ever wonder why the Synagogue Buffault stands so proudly on Rue Buffault? Its story is one of unity and disagreement among Parisian Jews. Let’s step back to the 19th century. Paris had two main Jewish communities. There were the Ashkenazi Jews from Alsace and other Rhenish countries. Also, there were Sephardic Jews from Portugal and the Ottoman Empire.
A plan emerged to unite these communities under a single French rite called Tsarefath. The Synagogue de la Rue de la Victoire was intended to be this unified place. However, disagreements arose. A major point of contention was the placement of the Bimah. The Bimah is the platform from which the Torah is read. The Portuguese Jews had different ideas than the Consistoire. They felt certain constraints were unacceptable.
So, in 1875, Jews from Bordeaux, Bayonne and other regions decided to build their own temple. They formed the Civil Society of the Israelite Temple. This temple would follow the Spanish-Portuguese Sephardic rite. Notable donors included Gustave de Rothschild and families like the Camondos. They bought land on Rue Buffault. Before that, a dance hall with Moorish arcades stood there since 1857.
But the funds raised were not enough. Daniel Iffla, also known as Osiris, stepped in. This banker and patron provided the necessary money. He commissioned architect Stanislas Ferrand. Ferrand entrusted the construction details to Albert Philippe Le Roy de Bonneville.
In 1877, the Synagogue Buffault opened its doors. Its design echoed the Romano-Byzantine style of other synagogues. It could accommodate 900 people. 600 men on the ground floor and 300 women in the galleries. The synagogue’s facade is striking. It features two narrow towers and a rosette with twelve spokes. These represent the twelve tribes of Israel.
Above, a Hebrew inscription quotes Deuteronomy. It reads “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.” Inside, the Synagogue Buffault has a wide nave. Side aisles support women’s galleries with marble columns. The keystones display biblical names like Abraham and Moses. An inscription above the western gallery proclaims “Love your neighbor as yourself”.
The Bimah, central to Sephardic tradition, stands in the middle of the synagogue. It is surrounded by a balustrade with large candelabras. The Torah Ark faces east towards Jerusalem. Sunlight streams through a lunette above. It illuminates the Hebrew letters for God’s name.
The Synagogue Buffault faced a unique challenge. Osiris, the main benefactor, wanted plaques honoring him. The community resisted. They felt it overshadowed other donors. A legal battle ensued. Eventually, they reached an agreement. Today, the Synagogue Buffault mainly serves Jews from the Oran region of North Africa. It stands as a testament to Sephardic identity. It is also a reminder of the complexities within Jewish history.