Obj. ID: 30681
Jewish Architecture Synagogue Israelita do Brás in São Paulo, Brazil
The following information about the Sinagoga (Synagogue) Israelita do Brãs of São Paulo, Brazil was researched by Myriam Rosenblit Szwarcbart.
The building of this synagogue resembles several others in São Paulo from the same period. Entrance to the building is through two side gates and has white walls with vertical stripes and blue inserts. The two lateral and external staircases, also in blue, provide access to the men's section. Adorning this synagogue are paintings of "Mazalot," or symbols of the zodiac, a common artistic theme in several synagogues in Poland. These paintings were done by a Polish-Jewish artist who had returned to Poland before World War II. Located at the back of this synagogue is a hall, which had been used as the sanctuary while the synagogue was undergoing renovations over 25 years ago. On the first floor there is an outdoor area and an anteroom with dedicatory plaques dating back to the synagogue's foundation. This area leads to the inner part of the synagogue where the men's section is situated. The women's section is reach through another flight of stairs, and it has a short wall that allows provides a view into the male section. The men's section is composed of a central corridor with wooden benches on either side. These benches have nooks for storing prayer books such as Sidurim and Machzorim, and each bank has a small nameplate. The Bimah and the Aron Kodesh rest at the end of the corridor where the floor level is raised. The windows are located on one side and at the back of the building and are made of translucent glass, some in shades of blue. The windows at the front correspond to the women's floor and depicted on them are the "Aseret Hadibrot." The wooden doors, some straight and some arched, were also painted in blue.
The building is conserved and the synagogue maintains the weekly "Shabbat Shacharit" prayers. It was not possible to retrieve the Mazalot paintings from the ceiling, and thus they were lost. However, the paintings of the Mazalot on the walls have been recovered and preserved. The "Sinagoga (Synagogue) Israelita do Brãs," which can still be visited today, exemplifies the art generally present in synagogues: the Mazalot paintings; the candelabra on the Bimah (with the Magen David on its sides); the details on the wooden benches; the Ner Tamid; the Parochet covering the Aron Hakodesh and the Menorahs flanking it; and the Torahs. We also note the plaques that identify the board and the fiscal council that built this Synagogue. Currently, the outside area on the first floor is covered in plastic.
