Abdellah Ben Salem Mosque

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] 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
Religion
Affiliation	Islam (previously Judaism)
Year consecrated	1918 (as a synagogue) 1975 (as a mosque)
Location
Municipality	Oran
Country	Algeria
Shown within Oran
Geographic coordinates	35°42′00″N 0°39′01″W
Architecture
Type	mosque
Style	Moorish
Completed	1880

History

Its construction began in 1879 at the initiative of Simon Kanoui, and took 38 years to complete.^[2] Once Algeria gained its independence in 1962, almost all Algerian Jews, who were considered French citizens since the Crémieux Decree of 1870, were expelled to France alongside the Pied-Noir settlers. In 1975, the synagogue was converted into a mosque^[1] and named after Abdullah ibn Salam, a seventh-century Jew from Medina and companion of Muhammad who converted to Islam.

Architecture

Its style shows Neo-Mudéjar and Moorish Revival influences.

See also

• History of the Jews in Algeria
• Djamaa Ben farès
• Conversion of non-Islamic places of worship into mosques

References

1. Mohamed Merit Heddi (2016). Les maires d'Oran de 1831 à 2016. Editions Publibook. p. 105. ISBN 978-2-342-05530-6. Archived from the original on 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2018-10-14.
2. Mohamed Merit Heddi (2016). Les maires d'Oran de 1831 à 2016. Editions Publibook. p. 53. ISBN 978-2-342-05530-6. Archived from the original on 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2018-10-14.

External links

• The Jewish Community of Oran | The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot Archived 2018-06-12 at the Wayback Machine