The Abdellah Ben Salem Mosque (Arabic: مسجد عبد الله بن سلام) is a mosque in Oran, Algeria. Formerly the Great Synagogue of Oran (French: Grande synagogue d'Oran), it was the largest synagogue in Africa.[1]: 105 Also known as Temple Israélite, it was located on Boulevard Joffre, currently Boulevard Maata Mohamed El Habib.
| Abdellah Ben Salem Mosque | |
|---|---|
مسجد عبدالله بن سلام | |
_en_2011.JPG) | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Islam |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | |
| Year consecrated |
|
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Boulevard Maata Mohamed El Habib, Oran |
| Country | Algeria |
  Location of the mosque in northern Algeria | |
 Interactive map of Abdellah Ben Salem Mosque | |
| Coordinates | 35°42′00″N 0°39′01″W / 35.70000°N 0.65028°W |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Synagogue architecture |
| Style | Moorish Revival |
| Completed |
|
History
editConstruction of the Orthodox Jewish synagogue began in 1879 at the initiative of Simon Kanoui, and took 38 years to complete.[1]: 53 The synagogue was completed in the Neo-Mudéjar and Moorish Revival styles. When Algeria gained its independence in 1962, almost all Algerian Jews,[2] who were considered French citizens since the Crémieux Decree of 1870,[3] were repatriated to France alongside the Pied-Noir settlers.[2]
In 1975, the synagogue was converted into a mosque[1]: 105 and named after Abdullah ibn Salam, a seventh-century Jew from Medina and companion of Muhammad who converted to Islam.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c Heddi, Mohamed Merit (2016). Les maires d'Oran de 1831 à 2016 (in French). Editions Publibook. p. 53. ISBN 978-2-342-05530-6. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2018 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b Ethan Katz (2015). The Burdens of Brotherhood Jews and Muslims from North Africa to France. Harvard University Press. p. 212. ISBN 978-0-674-08868-9.
- ^ Moses Leff, L. (2017). Crémieux Decree. In D. Diner (ed.), Encyclopedia of Jewish History and Cultures Online. Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/2468-8894_ejhc_COM_0167
External links
editMedia related to Abdallah Ibn Salam Mosque at Wikimedia Commons
- "The Jewish Community of Oran". The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018.
