Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
M.A. in Iranian Architectural Studies, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Art University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
2
Associate Professor, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Art University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
3
Professor, Faculty of Conservation and Restoration, Art University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
4
Associate Professor, Faculty of Handicrafts Department, Art University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
5
Graduated of the Rabbinic Judaism Studies, The religious authority of Iranian Jews and a Vice president of the Central Beth din (Bet Din) of Iranian Jews.
Abstract
Background and objectives: Synagogues are among the most significant religious spaces in Judaism. In most cases, their dedicatory inscriptions are written in Hebrew, the official and liturgical language of Jewish communities worldwide. In the city of Isfahan, which has a deep-rooted Jewish heritage, 18 synagogues are currently preserved, 11 of which contain inscriptions. In addition to Hebrew inscriptions, the presence of inscriptions in Judeo-Persian—a form of Persian written in Hebrew script used by Jewish communities in Persian-speaking regions—further enhances their historical and cultural importance. These inscriptions exhibit both linguistic and material diversity, being executed through various methods such as stone carving, tilework, wood engraving, mural painting on plaster, and handwritten manuscripts. Despite their significance, no independent research has yet been conducted on the reading and analysis of inscriptions in synagogues of Iranian Jews. Accordingly, the primary objective of this study is to document and interpret these inscriptions, with a specific focus on extracting historical information about the construction and renovation dates, names of patrons and custodians, and the motivations behind the establishment or endowment of synagogues in Isfahan. In addition, two tile inscriptions from demolished synagogues of Isfahan—currently preserved in museums abroad—are examined due to their historical age and distinctive decorative and epigraphic styles.
Materials and Methods: This research is based on the documentation of 17 Hebrew and Judeo-Persian inscriptions during field visits to synagogues in Isfahan, along with interviews conducted with religious leaders of Iran’s Jewish community and experts in Hebrew and Judeo-Persian epigraphy, in order to obtain accurate translations and contextual interpretations.
Results and conclusion: The findings of this study include the identification and accurate Persian translation of Hebrew and Judeo-Persian inscriptions from Isfahan’s synagogues, as well as the decoding of Hebrew acronyms (rashei teivot) found within the texts. The research also reveals the names of the synagogues’ founders and antiquity contributing to the documentation of the historical background of synagogue construction in Isfahan. The oldest known inscription dates back to the Abbasid Caliphate, while the remaining inscriptions—based on their decorative features or inscribed dates—span a historical range that includes the Timurid, Safavid, Qajar, and Pahlavi eras.
Keywords
Main Subjects
)