Jewish sacred architecture in the Spanish and Portuguese diaspora

Scholarly book chapter ; Upon first seeing the Esnoga, the great Portuguese Synagogue of Amsterdam, one is struck by its sheer size and prominence (Fig. 12.1–12.5). Instead of be- ing hidden down a quiet alleyway, or being tucked behind an unassuming fa- çade, as so many pre-modern European synagogues, the Esnoga stands tall, elegantly proclaiming the arrival of these former Conversos1 from Spain and Portugal into the bustling metropolis of Amsterdam. The structure tells us as much about the Jews who built it and prayed within its walls as it does about the larger Dutch society. The Esnoga of... Mehr ...