Etz Hayyim Synagogue, Jewish synagogue in Old Town, Chania, Greece.
Synagoga Etz Chaim is a Jewish house of worship in the Old Town of Chania, Crete, with a central sanctuary positioned between two courtyards. The interior includes a ritual bath, burial sites, and rooms designated for religious and cultural activities.
A Catholic church, probably dedicated to Saint Catherine, stood on the site in the 15th century and was destroyed during the Ottoman siege of 1535–1540. Thirty-six Jews volunteered to help build the city walls, and the Venetians likely gave or sold them the ruined church around 1560 for use as a synagogue. The community was deported in May 1944, and the building was restored between 1997 and 1999.
The synagogue remains an active place of worship and community gathering where visitors can witness Jewish religious traditions in practice. Exhibitions and events offer insights into the local Jewish heritage and contemporary life.
The building is open on most weekdays, though hours vary by day of the week. Visitors should check ahead and be mindful of access during religious holidays and observances.
The south courtyard, named for Ronald Lauder, holds the mikveh shared with the destroyed Beth Shalom synagogue and the graves of four rabbis who were not buried in the Jewish cemetery of Nea Chora. The north courtyard, dedicated to the Friends of Etz Hayyim, has a fountain rebuilt in 1995 and is entered through the Rothschild Gate.
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