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Obj. ID: 1834
Jewish Architecture
  Trabelsia Synagogue in Djerba - Prayer hall

© Center for Jewish Art, Photographer: Radovan, Zev, 1997

The rectangular prayer hall is of a single storey (see: Remarks: no.1) and is bordered by two courtyards.

The north-western and south-eastern sides form the outer walls; the south-western and north-eastern walls are adjacent to the courtyards.

Two entrances lead to the prayer hall; the original is an arched door on the north-east wall, while the contemporary access is a rectangular entrance, on the south-west. Each entrance is flanked by rectangular windows.  

 

Interior:

The prayer hall is a narrow rectangular space, in which the Torah ark is located on the south-east wall. The wooden Reader’s desk (teivah) is placed in its centre, forming a centralised liturgical space. The ark and the teivah are set in a central axis. The sittings are on built benches with straw mats, set around the walls.

The arched Torah ark is set within a niche at the centre of the south-eastern wall. It is flanked by two additional rectangular niches serving as genizah. The niches are built as part of the inner space of the prayer hall and do not extend towards the external space.

A central arched door, which originally served as the main entrance, is set on the north-east wall leading to the courtyard.  It is surmounted by a red wooden plaque inscribed with the verse (see: main photograph): “I have set the Lord always before me” (Ps. 16:8).

"שיויתי/ יהוה/ לנגדי תמיד" (תהילים טז:ח).                

The current entrance is through a rectangular door leading from the southern patio, and is set opposite the original doorway.

The back north-west part of the synagogue is occupied by book shelves and functions as a learning space.

Seven rectangular windows framed from within by an arched outline are set in the south-west and north-east walls flanking the entrances, three on the north-east and four on the south-west.

The prayer hall walls are painted blue, while the wooden ceiling and its supporting beams are white. Colourful ceramic tiles embellish the Ark and cover the benches.

Plaques inscribed with prayers and biblical verses are hung on the walls.

Summary and Remarks
Remarks

23 image(s)

sub-set tree:  

Name/Title
Prayer hall, Trabelsia Synagogue in Djerba | Unknown
Object Detail
Monument Setting
Unknown
Date
19th century
Active dates
Reconstruction dates
Artist/ Maker
Unknown
Origin
Historical Origin
Unknown
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Southern Tunisian| Southern Tunisia and Libya
Period Detail
Husseinite Dynasty under Ottoman Rule (1775-1881)
Collection
Unknown |
Documentation / Research project
Unknown
Iconographical Subject
Unknown |
Textual Content
Unknown |
Languages of inscription
Unknown
Shape / Form
Unknown
Material / Technique
Material Stucture
Material Decoration
Material Bonding
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
Height
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Condition
Extant
Documented by CJA
Surveyed by CJA
Present Usage
Present Usage Details
Condition of Building Fabric
Architectural Significance type
Historical significance: Event/Period
Historical significance: Collective Memory/Folklore
Historical significance: Person
Architectural Significance: Style
Architectural Significance: Artistic Decoration
Urban significance
Significance Rating
0
Ornamentation
Custom
Contents
Codicology
Scribes
Script
Number of Lines
Ruling
Pricking
Quires
Catchwords
Hebrew Numeration
Blank Leaves
Direction/Location
Façade (main)
Endivances
Location of Torah Ark
Location of Apse
Location of Niche
Location of Reader's Desk
Location of Platform
Temp: Architecture Axis
Arrangement of Seats
Location of Women's Section
Direction Prayer
Direction Toward Jerusalem
Coin
Coin Series
Coin Ruler
Coin Year
Denomination
Signature
Colophon
Scribal Notes
Watermark
Hallmark
Group
Group
Group
Group
Group
Trade Mark
Binding
Decoration Program
Suggested Reconsdivuction
History/Provenance
Main Surveys & Excavations
Sources
Type
Documenter
Ariella Amar | 07.97
Author of description
Ariella Amar | 03.11
Architectural Drawings
|
Computer Reconstruction
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Section Head
Ariella Amar | 03.11
Language Editor
Dvora Sax | 10.11
Donor
|
Negative/Photo. No.
The following information on this monument will be completed:
Unknown |