The Little Synagogue

Not to be confused with Ets Hayim Synagogue, a former Karaite synagogue in Cairo, Egypt.

The Little Synagogue
Ladino: Esnoga Chica
Little Synagogue, Irish Town interior
Religion
Affiliation	Orthodox Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Synagogue
Status	Active
Location
Location	91 Irish Town, Irish Town, Gibraltar, British overseas territories
Country	United Kingdom
Location of the synagogue in Gibraltar
Geographic coordinates	36°08′33″N 5°21′15″W
Architecture
Date established	1789

The Little Synagogue (Ladino: Esnoga Chica), officially Ets Hayim Synagogue, is an Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at 91 Irish Town, Irish Town, in Gibraltar, a British overseas territory of the United Kingdom.

History

Gibraltar had two sets of synagogue customs. Spanish and Portuguese Jews were accustomed to the formality of Christian church services and, therefore, their services tended to be formal. However, in Morocco, Jews were prohibited from building places of worship under shariah law. Subsequently, they were accustomed to meeting in makeshift groups in their own homes and continued to do so in Gibraltar.

They disliked the formal services at The Great Synagogue, which they referred to as the Dutch Synagogue. In 1759, the Yeshivah, Talmudic Academy, which had been established by Isaac Nieto in Irish Town, was converted into a synagogue for the Moroccan Jews. It was named Es Hayim (English: Tree of Life), but is more commonly known as The Little Synagogue. It is believed to have been destroyed during the Great Siege of Gibraltar and later rebuilt. The synagogue at 47/49 Engineer Lane has colourful tiles, marble floors, wrought iron spindles, and wooden furniture.

See also

• History of the Jews in Gibraltar
• List of synagogues in Gibraltar