Mordechay Navi Synagogue, Jewish synagogue in Kentron District, Yerevan, Armenia
Mordechay Navi Synagogue is a Jewish congregation and community centre at 23 Nar Dos Street in Yerevan's Kentron District. Opened in June 2011, it is the only synagogue in Armenia and is headed by Chief Rabbi Gershon Burstein. The building serves as the centre of the city's Jewish community.
The synagogue opened in June 2011 with funding from Armenian businessman David Galstyan, after the building had stood inactive for ten years. It gave Armenia's roughly 100-member Jewish community a working house of worship; the community's history in the region reaches back 2,000 years. In November 2023 a vandal poured fuel on the door and set it alight, causing no serious damage; the Israeli ambassador Joel Lion condemned the attack and Armenian authorities opened an investigation.
The community gathers here for weekly Shabbat services and celebrates Jewish holidays, keeping religious traditions alive through shared worship and learning. This is where local Jewish residents come together to mark important occasions in their calendar.
The synagogue stands at 23 Nar-Dos Street in the Kentron district, and the community centre there is headed by Chief Rabbi Gershon Burstein. It is a small, private place of worship for a community of about 100 people, so dress modestly and avoid photographing services. Check times before visiting, as opening depends on the day and on Jewish holidays.
This is the only active Jewish place of worship in the entire country, making it a significant spiritual center for the community. Its existence reflects how a small Jewish population has maintained its presence and faith in the region.
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