Obj. ID: 30961
Jewish Architecture  Synagogue Israelita Paulista in São Paulo, Brazil

The following information about the synagogue was researched by Myriam Rosenblit Szwarbart.

The “Hungarian Israeli Congregation”  was established in São Paulo on November 29, 1931. Initially, the congregation was located at “dos Andradas” street. In 1935, it rented the first floor of the building at General Osório St. In 1953, the congregation moved to Augusta St.

A double metal gate separates a small open internal space from the street. The building is on the right side of this small yard. The entrance is through an old double wooden door that leads to a hall. 

The hall is decorated with photos of former presidents. At the entrance, there are two plaques (one relates to the former presidents, another mentiones the board of directors). On the left side of the hall, there is a kitchen with windows. The kitchen is renovated, but the windows are original. To the right side, there are small rooms. A wooden staircase leads to the upper floor, where a small synagogue is located. 

The synagogue existed already in the 1950s. Torah Ark is made of dark wood and decorated with a red Torah ark curtain. Lions are flanking the Tablets of the Law. Bimah is also made of dark wood. Formerly, this hall was used only on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, later Shabbath prayers were also held here. Initially, the Torah Ark was located at the end of the hall. A stage, used as a Bimah, had been installed in front of the Ark. At first, the women were halfway to the right side of the room, and the men were on the left side. 

In the late 1980s, it was "noticed" that Bimah and Torah Ark were wrongly placed, and they were moved to the left side. Since men seat in the middle and women seat in the back. 

Near the prayer hall, on the right side, there is a library and a large hall with two stylized wall lamps.

The congregation initially was composed of Neolog Hungarian Jews. The prayers were held in Hebrew; sermons were given in Hungarian. In the 1990s, the oldest parishioners passed away, and their children no longer attended the “Augusta Street Synagogue”. At that time, the Chabad took over the synagogue and kept on with  Shabbath prayers once a month, in addition to Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur services.