The Great Synagogue of Jerusalem, ( he, בֵּית הַכְּנֶסֶת הַגָּדוֹל בּיְרוּשָׁלַיִם), is located at 56
King George Street,
Jerusalem. Rabbi Zalman Druck was the spiritual leader from the synagogue's establishment until his death on 11 December 2009.
History
As early as 1923 the
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi ( he, רב ראשי ''Rav Rashi'') is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities. Since 1911, through a ...
s of Israel,
Abraham Kook
Abraham Isaac Kook (; 7 September 1865 – 1 September 1935), known as Rav Kook, and also known by the acronym HaRaAYaH (), was an Orthodox Judaism, Orthodox rabbi, and the first Ashkenazi Jews, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbinate of Israel, Chief Rabbi of ...
and
Jacob Meir, mooted plans for a large central synagogue in Jerusalem. It was over 30 years later in 1958 when
Heichal Shlomo, seat of the Israeli Rabbinate, was founded, that a small synagogue was established within the building. As time passed and the need for more space grew, services were moved and held in the
foyer of Heichal Shlomo. Soon afterwards, when the premises could not hold the number of worshippers attending, it was decided that a new, much larger synagogue be built.
The plot of land next to Heichal Shlomo was purchased with the efforts of Dr Moshe Avrohom Yaffe, chairman of the
Board of Management of Heichal Shlomo. The main sponsor for construction of the new synagogue was Sir
Isaac Wolfson, a Jewish
philanthropist
Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...
from
Britain. The Wolfson family consecrated the synagogue in the memory of the six million Jews who were murdered in the
Holocaust and to the fallen soldiers of
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; he, צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל , ), alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym (), is the national military of the Israel, State of Israel. It consists of three servic ...
.
The style of the building was modeled on the
Jewish Temple by German-born architect Dr.
Alexander Friedman
Alexander Alexandrovich Friedmann (also spelled Friedman or Fridman ; russian: Алекса́ндр Алекса́ндрович Фри́дман) (June 16 .S. 4 1888 – September 16, 1925) was a Russians, Russian and USSR, Soviet physicis ...
(see selective list of works
.
The
inauguration
In government and politics, inauguration is the process of swearing a person into office and thus making that person the incumbent. Such an inauguration commonly occurs through a formal ceremony or special event, which may also include an inaugu ...
took place on
Tu B'Av 1982.
Naftali Hershtik was appointed the chief
cantor of the synagogue, a position he held until succeeded by Chief Cantor Chaim Adler on 31 December 2008. In addition, Cantors Avraham Kirshenbaum and Tzvi Weiss often lead the prayers, either alone or together with Chief Cantor Adler.
The sanctuary seats 850 men and 550 women. A comprehensive private collection of
mezuzah cases is on show inside the lobby.
Image gallery
Image:Central Synagogue02.jpg,
Image:Jerusalem Great Synagogue03.jpg,
See also
*
Great Synagogue
*
Wolfson family
References
External links
Jerusalem Great Synagogue Official Website
{{Coord, 31.7758, N, 35.2169, E, type:landmark, display=title
Synagogues in Jerusalem
Orthodox synagogues in Israel
Buildings and structures in Jerusalem
1982 establishments in Israel
Rehavia
Synagogues completed in 1982