Sinagoga de Madrid

Opened in 1968, the Sinagoga de Madrid stands as a testament to resilience. This wasn’t just another synagogue. It was the first new synagogue built in Spain since 1492, a year etched in Jewish history for the expulsion decreed by the Catholic Monarchs. The Sinagoga de Madrid, also known as Beth Yaacov Synagogue, emerged from a long history of quiet Jewish life in Madrid. Although Jewish presence existed in the city since the late 19th century, it took decades for a formal community, the Jewish Community of Madrid (CJM), to form in 1917. Their initial place of worship, the Midras Abordonel synagogue, wasn’t a new structure, but still represented a significant step. The Spanish Civil War brought a wave of repression. Franco’s regime, suspicious of so-called “enemy elements,” shut down the synagogue. The CJM moved to the Lawenda Oratory in 1949 and later to Calle de Pizarro. The late 1960s brought a turning point. Spain’s 1967 Law on Religious Freedom, coupled with Jewish emigration from Morocco after the Six-Day War, revitalized Madrid’s Jewish community. In 1959, permission was granted for an official synagogue. The construction of the Sinagoga de Madrid began in 1964, the same year the Jewish community gained official legal status in Spain. The project received financial support not only from the local community but also from the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. The Sinagoga de Madrid’s rectangular design, envisioned by a Spanish architect, housed a sanctuary with a capacity of 550, alongside spaces for educational and community activities. The sanctuary’s Hebrew inscriptions drew inspiration from the historic Synagogue of El Transito in Toledo. The inauguration of the Sinagoga de Madrid on December 16, 1968, was a momentous occasion. Attended by 600 people, including local members and international Jewish dignitaries, it marked a new chapter. The timing was significant. On the very same day, the Spanish Ministry of Justice formally repealed the Alhambra Decree of 1492, removing centuries-old restrictions on Jewish worship. Benito Garson, a rabbi who had emigrated from Spanish Morocco and received his ordination in London, became the synagogue’s first rabbi. The Sinagoga de Madrid has witnessed both joy and adversity. It was targeted by right-wing extremists in 1972 and has also welcomed royalty, with Queen Sofia attending Shabbat services in 1976 and King Juan Carlos I visiting in 1992. Today, the Sinagoga de Madrid continues to serve as a vital center for the CJM, housing its offices, rabbinate, a mikveh, and a history museum. The Sinagoga de Madrid is more than just a building. It embodies the enduring spirit of the Jewish community in Madrid. It’s a symbol of revival, resilience, and the ongoing story of Jewish life in Spain.