Larnaca Synagogue
Encyclopedia
The Larnaca Synagogue, located in the seaside resort town of Larnaca
, Cyprus
was inaugurated on September 12, 2005. It is the island's first and only synagogue
and until its opening, the only European Union
member to lack a synagogue.
"This is a historic event for Cyprus," Chief Rabbi
of Israel Yona Metzger
told a 100-strong crowd at the inauguration ceremony. "We are very happy Cyprus is open to all religions." "Cyprus is a state where all religions are tolerated and we welcome the Jewish synagogue," Cypriot Education Minister Pefkios Georgiades said.
The ceremony included the introduction of a Torah scroll
and the laying of the cornerstone for a mikveh.
Larnaca
Larnaca, is the third largest city on the southern coast of Cyprus after Nicosia and Limassol. It has a population of 72,000 and is the island's second largest commercial port and an important tourist resort...
, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
was inaugurated on September 12, 2005. It is the island's first and only synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
and until its opening, the only European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
member to lack a synagogue.
"This is a historic event for Cyprus," Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
of Israel Yona Metzger
Yona Metzger
Yona Metzger is the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel. His counterpart is Rabbi Shlomo Amar, the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel since their appointments in 2003.-Background:...
told a 100-strong crowd at the inauguration ceremony. "We are very happy Cyprus is open to all religions." "Cyprus is a state where all religions are tolerated and we welcome the Jewish synagogue," Cypriot Education Minister Pefkios Georgiades said.
The ceremony included the introduction of a Torah scroll
Sefer Torah
A Sefer Torah of Torah” or “Torah scroll”) is a handwritten copy of the Torah or Pentateuch, the holiest book within Judaism. It must meet extremely strict standards of production. The Torah scroll is mainly used in the ritual of Torah reading during Jewish services...
and the laying of the cornerstone for a mikveh.