Destruction of the Rafi'-Nia synagogue

Destruction of the Rafi'-Nia synagogue
Part of the destruction of cultural heritage sites during the 2026 Iran war
Members of the Tehran Jewish community navigating the site where the Rafi'-Nia synagogue was destroyed, as depicted and recorded by Mehr News Agency.
Native nameکنیسه رفیع‌نیا
LocationRafi-Nia synagogue
Date7 April 2026
TargetUnnamed Iranian commander in the adjacent Khatam al-Anbiya headquarter (per Israel)
Attack type
Airstrike, attempted targeted killing
InjuredTwo people were initially stuck under rubble, but no injuries were reported
Perpetrator

On 7 April 2026, during the 2026 Iran war, the Rafi'-Nia synagogue in Tehran was completely destroyed during an Israeli Air Force strike on an adjacent building.[1] The incident was condemned by Iranian authorities and the local Jewish community. The Israel Defense Force (IDF) said it "regrets" the destruction of the synagogue.

Background

The synagogue before its destruction, 2009.

At the same time as Jews settled in the Keshavarz Boulevard area (formerly Elizabeth), Abdolrahman Rafī'nia built this synagogue in 1958 in two floors. The main floor (second floor) was allocated to Mashhadis, while the ground floor was allocated to Kermanis.[2]

According to the Iranian outlet Shargh, it was "one of the most important places for Khorasan Jews to gather and celebrate."[1][3][4][5]

Airstrike

The IDF said it was targeting an Iranian commander, who was located in the adjacent Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters.[6][7] It said the destruction of the synagogue was "collateral damage" caused by the airstrike to the adjacent building.[3][8] Numerous religious texts were buried under the rubble of the collapsing synagogue,[4] alongside two people who were assisted by the Red Crescent through a "high-stakes" rescue operation.[9] There were no immediate reports of casualties following the strike.[10]

Reactions

Iran

Homayoun Sameh-Yah Najafabadi, head of the Tehran Jewish Committee and representative of Iranian Jews in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, said that Israel did not spare the Jewish community even during Jewish holidays and targeted one of their sacred synagogues.[4] Siamak Moreh Sedgh, former Jewish representative in parliament, stated: "A synagogue is a place of worship; no military activity was conducted there; no drones were built, and no launchers were present."[11] The Iranian Jewish community condemned the attack in a statement signed by Rabbi Younes Hamami Lalehzar, the religious leader of the community.[11]

Abbas Salehi, Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, described the destruction as bitter and distressing.[12] Seyyed Mahmoud Alavi, head of Iran’s Council of Ethnicities, Religions, and Denominations, called the attack "a clear insult to religious sanctities and fundamental human rights."[13] Mohammad Reza Aref, First Vice President, described attacks on religious sites such as churches and synagogues as “an attack on the heart of Iran.”[14] Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote in response: "Wake up, world: who is the real threat to Judaism?"[15]

Israel

The Israel Defense Forces initially did not respond to requests for comment.[6] An Israeli government official stated: "Israel doesn’t target synagogues. Anyone claiming otherwise thinks you’re gullible."[16] Later, however, the Israeli military confirmed that the synagogue was damaged as a result of its strike, stating that the target was a senior commander of the emergency command of Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters, and expressed regret for the synagogue’s damage as "collateral damage."[16][17][18]

The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism stated that multiple sources—"all Iranian," as noted—confirmed damage to the synagogue, but suggested that claims of its complete destruction were likely exaggerated for propaganda purposes.[16]

The Prime Minister’s Office also responded to a request from The Times of Israel by stating: "Iran fires missiles at civilians; Israel targets terrorist infrastructure. Missiles at civilians versus precise strikes at terrorist targets—that is the difference."[16]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 AFP and AP. "Synagogue in Tehran 'completely destroyed' in US-Israeli attack". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  2. ↑ Yasaman Ghani. "A historical-descriptive study of Tehran synagogues" [بررسی تاریخی- توصیفی کنیسه‌های تهران] (PDF) (in Persian). Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Synagogue in Tehran 'completely destroyed' in US-Israeli attack". Al Jazeera. 7 April 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 "Iranian Synagogue 'Completely Destroyed,' Reportedly By US-Israeli Airstrike | Common Dreams". Common Dreams. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  5. ↑ AFP (7 April 2026). "Strikes 'completely destroyed' synagogue in Iranian capital, local media report". Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  6. 1 2 Ari, Lior Ben; Eichner, Itamar (7 April 2026). "IDF confirms Tehran strike targeted Iranian commander, synagogue hit was 'collateral damage'". Ynetglobal. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  7. ↑ Fabian, Emanuel; Stub, Zev (7 April 2026). "IDF admits Tehran synagogue was 'collateral damage' in strike on Iran commander". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  8. ↑ "Iran's Jewish community condemns US-Israeli attack on synagogue". The New Arab. 7 April 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  9. ↑ "Israel Strikes Jewish Synagogue in Tehran". West Asia News Agency. 7 April 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  10. ↑ "US-Israeli strikes 'completely destroy' synagogue in Tehran". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  11. 1 2 "Destruction of Tehran's 'Rafi'nia' synagogue following an airstrike" [تخریب کنیسه «رفیع‌نیا» تهران در پی حمله هوایی]. iranwire.com (in Persian). Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  12. ↑ "Minister of Culture reacts to damage to a synagogue in enemy attacks" [واکنش وزیر فرهنگ به آسیب‌دیدن یک کنیسه در حملات دشمن]. ANA News Agency (in Persian). 7 April 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  13. ↑ "Condemnation of the attack on the Jewish synagogue in Tehran" [محکومیت حمله به کنیسه یهودیان در تهران]. Fars (in Persian). Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  14. ↑ "Reactions to the airstrike on Rafi'nia Synagogue in Tehran" [واکنش‌ها به حمله هوایی به کنیسه رفیع‌نیا در تهران]. BBC Persian (in Persian). 7 April 2026. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  15. ↑ "Zarif: Wake up world; who is the real threat to Judaism?" [ظریف: بیدار شو جهان؛ تهدید واقعی برای یهودیت کیست؟]. Nour News. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Fabian, Emanuel; Stub, Zev (7 April 2026). "IDF admits Tehran synagogue was 'collateral damage' in strike on Iran commander". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  17. ↑ Ari, Lior Ben; Eichner, Itamar (7 April 2026). "IDF confirms Tehran strike targeted Iranian commander, synagogue hit was 'collateral damage'". Ynetglobal. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
  18. ↑ "Israeli Military Says It Regrets Damage to Iran Synagogue From Airstrike". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 7 April 2026.
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