Larnaca to host island’s first synagogue in decades
CYPRUS’ GROWING Jewish community will on Monday inaugurate the first synagogue on the island for decades, marking a milestone in the history of Jewry in Cyprus. The synagogue is being opened in Larnaca.
“Monday will mark the beginning of a new chapter for Cyprus Jewry as it celebrates the renewal of communal life on the island,” said an announcement from the Jewish community.
Among those attending the inauguration will be the Chief Rabbi of Israel Rabbi Yona Metzger, members of the government, politicians and diplomats.
“It is my ardent hope that this will be the first of many events which will enable us to share our rich cultural heritage with the wider community,” said Rabbi Zeev Raskin who will be inducted as the first Rabbi of the Jewish community in Cyprus.
Rabbi Raskin could not be reached for comment yesterday but a spokesman for the community Saaya Natik told the Cyprus Mail there were around 3,000 Jewish people living in Cyprus, a large number of whom live in the north. The number represents around 300 Jewish families, he said, adding that every Friday night around 150 gather together to mark the Sabbath.
Natik said they were a combination of Israeli Jews, Russian Jews, Lebanese Jews and even Syrian Jews living on the island all of whom live on the island for different reasons. “Some have come from Israel to escape the problems there,” he said. “Many are retired and they appreciate the quiet in Cyprus.”
He said others were professionals who live here.
Natik said Cyprus is also close to Israel with only a 35 minute flight, which also prompts some 60,000 Israeli tourists to visit every year, many 17- and 18-year-olds who have a holiday before doing their military service.
Rabbi Raskin was sent from Israel as a Chabad-Lubavtich emissary two years ago to help the revival of the Jewish community on the island. He is married with four children.
In a recent interview with Israeli newspaper Arutz Sheva, Rabbi Raskin talked about the history of Jewry in Cyprus.
He said that in 1571, the Ottomans tried to bring Jews from Greece and the Holy Land to Cyprus, but the Jews returned home at their first opportunity. He said the next Jews to arrive on the island were the refugees from WWII Europe who were prevented entry to the Land of Israel by the British and kept here in an internment camp.
In all around 52,000 Jews were diverted to Cyprus for various periods of time and 2,000 babies were born on the island as their parents waited to enter Israel, he said.
“We’re now creating a brand-new life for Jews here,” Rabbi Raskin told the newspaper, after months of efforts both in education and in obtaining government approval for the new centre.
“The people here are very interested in keeping up their connections with the Jewish People and the Jewish Land,” Rabbi Raskin told Arutz, “And they are excited about the opening of the Centre.”
Among the activities being provided are Sunday school classes and a small nursery school. Rabbi Raskin said the Sunday school began with three children: “Then it went up to 10, then up to 18, then down to 5, and now we’re back up to 20. With all the ups and downs, we can’t become discouraged; it’s a long process, but the tried-and-true methods of bringing Torah life to Jews will prove themselves.
“For very long, we only had nine Jews for Sabbath services, making for a very frustrating experience in missing only one for the necessary quorum. Now, thank God, we have a quorum every Sabbath.”
Natik said Monday’s ceremony would include some very important Jewish rituals such as the introduction of a Torah Scroll, the laying of the cornerstone for a mikveh (ritual bath), and the naming of the community’s rabbi.
