麻豆APP

Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue. 26th Street. Yangon, Myanmar – Photo: Marcin Konsek –

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue

The Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue is a Jewish house of worship. It is located in Downtown Yangon on a small street near the city Centre, between Indian paint shops and Muslim traders.

The synagogue is still used actively by the few remaining Jews in the country. It is the only remaining synagogue in Myanmar (Burma).

It was built in 1854 and later rebuilt in stone between 1893 -1896. The temple served the growing number of Jews in the country in the late 19th and 20th centuries. Today only a few Jews remain in the country to use it.

Below are some interesting facts about this symbolic Jewish place of worship known as the Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue.

1. Built by The Rangoon Jewish Community

The early 1800s saw an increasing number of Cochini, Bene Israel, and Baghdadi Jews increase in Burma鈥檚 colonial Era. Their increasingly noticeable numbers increased their need for a place of worship which the British Government obliged.

The British Colonial Government provided them with a plot of land in 1854. This is where they (The Jews in Rangoon) erected a wooden structure as the Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue.

Between 1893 and 1896, the wooden structure was replaced with a larger stone building. This is the same structure that is present to date. Reconstruction was necessary due to the increasing number of Jews in The County.

2. A Tourist Destination

The synagogue鈥檚 gates are always closed. One thing that is very visible at the gates is a very unwelcoming sign. It reads; 鈥渙utsiders are not allowed.鈥�

However, do not let this deter you from visiting. Visitors and tourists are allowed into the grounds. This is, however, provided, that they seek permission before arriving. Roughly a day before the visit.

Over the years this synagogue has increasingly become an unlikely tourist attraction. According to TripAdvisor, the synagogue is one of the top ten attractions in the city.

3. Unique Structure

The altar of the Musmeah Yeshua synagogue in Rangoon/Yangon, Burma – By Esme Vos –

One of the major features of the building is the raised platform, the Bema, where the Torah (the Jewish holy book) is read during services. The Bema is surrounded by cane-backed chairs that are in good condition.

Also in the synagogue is an old clock. The clock does not tell time, anymore, and it’s difficult to tell when it was made. It however has an English inscription that reads 鈥淩angoon鈥�. Most of what is in the synagogue is as old as the temple itself despite several restorations.

With a high ceiling and an open second floor that provides a view of the area below where the congregation congregates for prayer, the interior is serene, roomy, and well-lit.

4. It Was Not the Only Synagogue in The Country

The majority of the Jews in the country were traders and merchants. They played a significant role in the growth of British Burma.

In 1932, due to the increasing population of Jews, the British colonial government sanctioned a second synagogue. It was called Beth El and It was located on the premise of E. Solomon & Sons on Dalhousie and 31 Streets. Due to the declining number of Jews in the country over time, it was unused and eventually closed.

5. Restoration Began In 2007 and Ended In 2013

Painter on Facade of Moseah Yeshua Synagogue – Yangon (Rangoon) – Myanmar (Burma) – By Adam Jones –

In 2007, the US-ASEAN Council for Business and Technology started the restoration project for the Synagogue. This was after obtaining a license from the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

The main aim of the project was to raise funds for the daily operations of the synagogue as well as restore it. The project also managed to assist the synagogue in getting a new cemetery. This helped since the government planned to remove all cemeteries from the city.

In 2013 restoration was completed and an event to celebrate the fete was held on December 8th, 2013. This event was attended by the then Myanmar presidential minister U Aung Min among other several high-profile dignitaries.

The project’s success was credited to anthropologists Ruth Cernea, Laura Hudson, and Stuart Spencer for impeccable leadership.

6. It Was Hit by Cyclone Nargis

Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Nargis – By NASA –

On 2nd May 2008, Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar land. This cyclone sent a storm surge that reached over 40km in the densely populated Irrawaddy delta region.

To this date, it is the worst natural disaster that has been recorded in Myanmar鈥檚 history. It caused great destruction of property and over 138, 373 fatalities.

Among the many affected buildings and facilities was the Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue. Its roof was completely torn off and the building got water damage.

7. The Synagogue Has Received Awards

The Yangon Regional Government in collaboration with the Yangon Heritage Trust presented the synagogue with an award on 6th June 2016.

The award was a commemorative blue heritage plaque to Yangon’s only Synagogue. This award remembered and celebrated the Jewish Community, which has lived in Yangon for generations. It also serves the purpose of recognizing Yangon and Myanmar鈥檚 religious and racial diversity.

8. The Synagogue鈥檚 Trustee Is Named Samuel

Interior of Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue – By Adam Jones –

On 29th May 2015, the synagogue鈥檚 former trustee Moses Samuel鈥檚 died in Yangon. He was survived by his widow, Nelly, and his three children, Samuel, Dina, and Kaznah.

Samuel, who is a Yeshiva University (New York) graduate, is the current trustee. He opened two hotels and a tourism agency in the city after his return.

9. It Is Listed as A Heritage Building

Some of the man-made landmarks of Yangon, Myanmar, are listed on the Yangon City Heritage List. The Yangon City Development Committee, the local government, sets up this list.

As of 2001, there were 188 buildings on the list, and the majority of them were constructed during the British colonial era or are religious institutions. The Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue is one of these heritage buildings.

10. Its Location Primarily Consists of Muslims

The Musmeah Yeshua Synagogue was built as a place of worship for the thriving Jewish community. However, in the 21st century, this community in Myanmar is not thriving at all.

Most Jews have migrated to other countries over the years. They first began leaving during World War II due to Japanese occupation.

At the moment, less than a handful of families are in Yangon. The synagogue is still a place of worship for them despite also being a tourist site. The area it is found is mostly occupied by Muslims. It is located between Indian paint shops and Muslim traders.