Community Magazine April 2014

NISSAN 5774 APRIL 2014 27 Images of times past adorn the walls. Large, full-scale photographs of the main synagogues of Aleppo, Damascus and Tadef give the viewer a glimpse into the gems of yesteryear. The photos alone tell a story of both beauty and destruction. They illustrate our communities’ dedication to prayer, building grand, spectacular houses of worship in a country that was not always conducive for religious life. Yet they also show what the country’s rulers have done to destruct that which is most holy. The detail in each photo is so meticulous that it takes five or six angles to give the viewer a clear understanding of what he is seeing. The synagogues of old had seemingly endless passageways, corridors and entrances that enhanced their beauty and grandeur, all of which are put on magnificent display in the museum. The vast photographic portfolio of the Sephardic Heritage Museum is comprised of photographs taken in 1995 by the famed photographer Robert Lyons, who was allowed access to nearly every historical structure and location in Syria, along with those commissioned by the museum, under great threat (“curious tourists” are frowned upon in modern day Syria). In all, the Museum contains over 30,000 photographs offering vivid depictions of Jewish life in Syria. But this dazzling array of pictures is but one minute facet of the ever evolving institution. Just past the understated entranceway lies the only Syrian artifacts museum in the world that is specifically dedicated to preserving Syrian Jewish history. A newcomer is spellbound by the scope and grandeur of its real-life mementos. Everything from Judaic articles to seemingly mundane day-to-day utensils sit on the shelves beckoning the visitor to bask in its glory. Large, glorious Torah cases, identical to the ones we use today, stand proud as though loudly proclaiming our community’s ongoing love and fealty to our sacred Torah. There are articles of clothing worn by common community members as well as by the city’s Torah scholars. Boxes upon boxes align the walls and floor containing family heirlooms such as jewelry, candle sticks, books, platters, cups and more. Large maroon cases are neatly stacked side-by-side to the ceiling with thousands of documents of major historical importance. Many of the artifacts on display do not outwardly appear relevant to our modern-day community, but in truth, as the museum’s staff explains, are laden with meaning and significance. For instance, a seemingly standard, large, metal canister that sits perched on a shelf does not beg any attention, but we later discovered that this was the canister used by Mr. Joe Srour in his native land to make arak for the community. Bottles of his famous arak still exist, and remain in the possession of his children and grandchildren to this day. This is but one example of the past connecting to the present. There are hundreds of artifacts just like this that show the observer the distinct similarities and links between the old country and our current ways. The Scientists of Our Heritage In the midst of this immense historical capsule sits a team of some 15 historians, archivists and scholars. Their job is to painstakingly chronicle events, corroborate dates and document everything they come across. Each member of the staff is carefully selected to serve his specific role. They are tasked with cataloging even the most seemingly minuscule of details. They sit in front of a bank of computers outfitted with the most cutting-edge technology, and the machines hum with fervor as though in a rush to complete their mammoth task. The space they work in is part museum and part laboratory. These brilliant men, the “scientists” of our heritage, discuss obscure dates and events as if they occurred yesterday. And every so often while engaging in their trade, a smile crosses their face as if to say, “Yes, we, too, are still amazed!” The team in New Jersey is but one of several around the world that devote their days and nights to uncovering the rich heritage of our people. There are research departments in Turkey and France that, much like their American counterparts, scour the plane of history in search of more details and information. There is a constant flow of communication between the U.S. office and the research Manuscript cover of Hacham Ezra Attia's lectures. Shabbat Hagadol D’rasha, circa 1850. Pizmonim written by Rabbi Moshe Ashear, one of the first Hazzanim of the community; Aleppo, circa 1900.