The Synagogue was opened on the 11th of September 1884 (21st Elul 5644), and has completed its restoration, and was rededicated on the 17thof December 2017(29 Kislev 5778). MAGHEN DAVID SYNAGOGUE
Founded: 1884 (5644)
Restored: 2017 (5778)
Elias David Joseph Ezra built the Maghen David Synagogue in memory of his father David Joseph Ezra. The Foundation stone was laid on the 23rd of January 1883
(15 Shevat 5643) and the Synagogue was opened on the 11th of September 1884 (21st Elul 5644) . The Congregation in the early days had visiting Rabbinical Emissaries from Jerusalem and Baghdad. The Synagogues Ministers served the community in prayer, spiritualism and in religious and social matters. The community in the 50’s - 60’s had a Rabbi for 12 years. The Community had Chachamim(wise Torah Scholars) that were certified to preform the vast array of religious practices
The Calcutta Jewish Community was established in 1798 by a Syrian Jew - Shalom Aaron Obadiah Cohen and his family from Aleppo, Syria. His diaries tell that it was on the 5th of August 1798 (25th Av 5558) that he took residence. He lived in Calcutta with his second wife Simha Najima Cohen and their children and families at the very place where Neveh Shalom stands today. The Maghen David Synagogue is famous for its architectural splendour and its ornate elegance. The outer brick walls were originally a mellow red and grey. The Maghen David stands alongside the Old House now known as the Neveh Shalom Synagogue Calcutta’s first Synagogue built in 1831 by Shalom Aaron Obadiah Cohen and Ezekiel Judah in memory of Shalom Obadiah Cohen. It was dismantled in 1910 and rebuilt with larger space. It was completed and consecrated on the 4th of March 1912 (15 Adar 5672). Maghen David Synagogue’s spectacular interiors are Italian oriented. The 12 grand pillars each with a different floral décor on the top are meant to depict the twelve tribes of Israel. The cut glass, thirty lights electrolier that adorns the center of the edifice which was originally in the Grand Opera House of Calcutta owned by the most Rev Elias Moses Duek Cohen, was presented to the Synagogue by him in 1918. The others were installed in 1927 after his death. In the year 2015 it was decided by the Synagogues Board of Management to restore the Maghen David Synagogue. The need for emergency conservation was imperative as the main structural components of the heritage buildings were under serious threat of decay and deterioration. About 20 Experts in the field of Heritage Monuments, Conservation and Preservation were involved for the documentation and finally with their team of about 200 – 250 artisans and skilled laborers from different parts of India, began the restoration. The Maghen David Synagogue restoration project began in the year 2016 and was completed on the 16th of December 2017 at midnight. The Maghen David Synagogue along with the Beth El Synagogue celebrated the completion of restoration and was rededicated on the 17thof December 2017(29 Kislev 5778).
