Beth El Synagogue, Jewish religious building in Gloucester Street, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Beth El Synagogue is a wooden synagogue building on Gloucester Street in Christchurch, constructed with traditional architectural features. The congregation used it for religious gatherings and ceremonies until moving to a new location in 1987.
The synagogue first opened in 1864 to designs by architect Benjamin Mountfort, marking the start of Jewish worship in the South Island region. The congregation grew over time and eventually relocated to a different address.
The congregation gathered religious items from different places, bringing together a Torah from London and ceremonial objects from other Australian cities.
The original building was located on Gloucester Street in the city center and can be identified by its wooden structure and traditional design. Today, visitors interested in the congregation should visit the newer location on Durham Street where the community now gathers.
Rabbi Isaac Zachariah, a Sephardic religious leader from Baghdad who trained in Jerusalem, led the congregation during its growth period. His background and international experience brought diverse religious traditions to the community.
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