Did you know that the Praça Onze area, the birthplace of "Pequena África," was also nicknamed the "Jewish Neighborhood," due to the significant Jewish community that once existed there?
Image description: This is a photograph of an architectural detail, possibly of a window or a door. The image shows an intricate pattern of circles and geometric lines arranged within a larger circle. From the center outward, the circles are interconnected by straight and curved lines, forming an intricate design. The background is black, while the pattern is gold. There is no text, and no colors other than gold and black are present.Imagem retirada de https://www.grandetemplorj.com.br/
Between the end of the 19th century and the 1940s, Jewish immigrants from various regions of the globe crossed the Atlantic in search of better living conditions. They settled in Praça Onze and there occupied tenements and townhouses where they lived and carried out various economic activities: “kosher” product stores, butcher shops, schools, libraries, welfare associations, theaters, and print shops.
There was no large temple that united Jews of different rites in a single synagogue as a place of worship, a house of study, and a congregational space. So, near Praça da Cruz Vermelha, the Grande Templo Israelita was built, known as the "Sinagoga da Rua Tenente Possolo" (before it, there is a record of a synagogue in a townhouse located on Praça da República in 1840).
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Image description: This is a photograph of a building with classical architecture. The image shows an upper portion of the temple, highlighting a large decorative panel. On the left side, we see a partially visible tree. In the center, the panel features a scene with colorful elements, including an open book and a landscape with mountains and blue sky. On the right, there are architectural details with arches and ornamental columns. The building is light gray in color, with darker-toned details.The Great Temple was conceived by Jacob Schneider, one of the most important leaders of the Jewish community, responsible for creating the periodical Gazeta Israelita. To raise funds for the construction, stones bearing the names of the Jewish prophets that make up the building were sold at auction, in addition to contribution campaigns and the sale of founding-member titles.
In a competition, the project chosen was that of Italian architect Mário Vodret, later adapted by the Italian and Jewish architect Guido Levy. In an eclectic style inspired by the monumental architecture of the synagogues of Trieste and Florence, the religious building with 26 m towers was inaugurated in 1932, after 7 years of construction. Its foundation stone was laid by the then president of the Republic, Washington Luiz. Media businessman Adolpho Bloch was one of its important benefactors and was responsible for the last major renovation. In 1987, the building was listed as a heritage site by the city government. Currently, the main religious ceremonies are held there, and it is open to the public for visits by appointment.
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Image description: The image shows a plaque with tributes and acknowledgments. The plaque is green with gold inscriptions. It is fixed to a light gray surface. At the top, there is a gold border separating the plaque from the background. The inscriptions mention contributions to the reconstruction of a temple and name three people: Drs. Israel, Daniel, and Armando, children of the founders Wolf and Rosa Klabin. The year 5748 appears next to Wolf and Rosa Klabin, while 1987 appears next to Armando.
