The Karaite Center in Ramla

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In the Middle Ages there was a large Karaite community in Ramla, otherwise known as “Readers of the Hebrew Scriptures”. First knowledge of this group dates back to the 10th century and the Karaite Sahal Matzliah tells their story and recounts their good relationship with their Jewish neighbors, whom the Karaites called Rabbis: “Our brothers the students of the Rabbis on the Holy Mountain and in Ramla”. The Karaite community grew over the following years and tensions emerged between them and the Jews.

In the 11th century, circa 1030, the Rabbis in Jerusalem announced that they would excommunicate them and prepared to do so from atop the Mt. of Olives in Jerusalem, while the masses were gathering there to celebrate Hoshana Raba during the Festival of Tabernacles. The authorities opposed this declaration of excommunication because they wanted to eliminate disputes among inhabitants.

The Karaites in Ramla had their own special synagogues. One was called in Arabic: Kenisa Alusta – the Mediterranean Synagogue. According to one source there was also a Karaite synagogue named after Samuel the Prophet in Ramla. The conquest of Ramla by the Seljuk armies – in 1071 and its subsequent conquest by the Crusaders – in 1099, brought an end to the Karaite community in Ramla, leaving no trace.

Upon the establishment of the State of Israel, Karaites from Egypt began making aliyah to Israel, mostly from the city of Cairo, where the Karaites lived alongside the Jews and maintained good relations with them. Karaite who arrived to Israel settled in Ramla and in the nearby area.

The Karaites are an important movement of the Israeli people, founded during the 8th century. The Karaites are Jews with unique views that set them apart from the central rabbinical movement of Judaism.

The Karaites see the Mishna and Talmud as words of the wise men rather than oral traditions. A visit to the Karaite synagogue in Ralma teaches of the unique characteristics of this community

Address: Klauzner St

The Karaite Synagogue in Ramla