Beit Yaacov/Rabi Meyr Synagogue 🇧🇷

Located in Manaus, Amazonas, the Beit Yaacov/Rabi Meyr Synagogue is a Traditional Jewish congregation and one of the largest and most influential communities of Amazonian Jews in northern Brazil. Completed in 1962, the current synagogue represents a merger of two earlier congregations with roots tracing back to the 1920s. Visiting this landmark offers a fascinating glimpse into the rich heritage of the region's Jewish population, which originally grew through early nineteenth-century Moroccan migration and the Amazonian Rubber Boom, later welcoming Alsatian and Ashkenazi communities.

Known locally as the 'esnoga'—a Ladino term derived from Hebrew words meaning fire and brightness—the synagogue stands as the vibrant center of local Jewish life. Inside, congregants gather for traditional weekly Shabat services held on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings, as well as annual holiday observances, Mimouna, and Hilulot honoring Moroccan rabbis. Beyond the synagogue building, the broader history of Manaus includes fascinating stories such as Rabbi Shalom Imanuel Muyal, who arrived from Morocco in 1908 and is buried in Saint John the Baptist Cemetery, where locals reverence him as a miracle-working saint.

A visit provides unique cultural insight into a resilient community deeply tied to Amazonian history.

What to see at Beit Yaacov/Rabi Meyr Synagogue

• Explore one of northern Brazil's largest and most influential Amazonian Jewish congregations, completed in 1962.
• Discover the synagogue's heritage originating from a merger of 1920s congregations.
• Learn about local term 'esnoga', derived from Ladino roots referencing fire and brightness.
• Experience Traditional Jewish communal life with Friday night and Saturday morning Shabat services.
• Hear the story of Moroccan Rabbi Shalom Imanuel Muyal, honored at Saint John the Baptist Cemetery.

Visiting tips

For security reasons, Jewish tourists or groups wishing to participate in religious services must inform the community in advance.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Friday evening or Saturday morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Beit Yaacov/Rabi Meyr Synagogue is easy to reach on Manaus’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Amazon Theatre and Igreja de São Sebastião. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Manaus travel guide.