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Great Synagogue (Jerusalem)
Encyclopedia
The Great Synagogue of Jerusalem, , is located at 58 King George Street
, Jerusalem, Israel
. Rabbi Zalman Druck was the spiritual leader from the synagogue's establishment until he died on 11 December 2009. The president of the synagogue is Rabbi Dr. David M. Fuld.
As early as 1923 the Chief Rabbi
s of Israel, Abraham Kook 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
form Britain
. The Wolfson family consecrated the synagogue in the memory of the six million Jews who perished in the holocaust and to the fallen soldiers of Israel Defense Forces
.
The style of the building was modeled on the Jewish Temple
which once stood in Jerusalem. The inauguration
took place on Tu B'Av
1982. Naftali Hershtik was appointed the chief cantor
of the synagogue, a position he held up to 31 December 2008 succeeded by Haim Adler.
The sanctuary seats 850 men and 550 women.
A comprehensive private collection of mezuzah
cases is on show inside the lobby.
On 8 August 2009, on the Shabbat
of the weekly Torah portion of Eikev
, a commemoration of the synagogue's 27th anniversary was held with the visiting renowned hazzan
Yitzchak Meir Helfgot. Attendance, estimated at over 3000, outnumbered the seating capacity, constrained attendants to close the doors forty-five minutes prior to the beginning of services and deny entrance to hundreds still outside which led to minor violence by frustrated people. The idea to offer tickets ahead of time was not accepted by the synagogue rabbi. The evening services lasted about two hours and the morning services about five hours.
King George Street (Jerusalem)
King George Street is a street in central Jerusalem, Israel. It was named for King George V on December 9, 1924.-History:King George Street was dedicated in honor of the seventh anniversary of the British conquest of Jerusalem under General Allenby...
, Jerusalem, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Rabbi Zalman Druck was the spiritual leader from the synagogue's establishment until he died on 11 December 2009. The president of the synagogue is Rabbi Dr. David M. Fuld.
As early as 1923 the Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi 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...
s of Israel, Abraham Kook and Jacob Meir
Jacob Meir
Jacob Meir, , was the first Sephardic Chief Rabbi appointed under the British Mandate of Palestine. A talmudic scholar, fluent in Hebrew as well as five other languages, he enjoyed a reputation as one of Jerusalem's most respected rabbis....
, mooted plans for a large central synagogue in Jerusalem. It was over 30 years later in 1958 when Heichal Shlomo
Heichal Shlomo
Heichal Shlomo located adjacent to the Great Synagogue on King George Street, Jerusalem, was the former seat of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. The building currently contains the Jewish Heritage Museum, Renanim Synagogue, office space and an auditorium. It is opposite the Leonardo Plaza Hotel...
, 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
Foyer
A foyer or lobby is a large, vast room or complex of rooms adjacent to the auditorium...
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
Isaac Wolfson
Sir Isaac Wolfson, 1st Baronet FRS was a businessman and philanthropist. He was managing director of Great Universal Stores 1932-1947 and chairman 1947-1987. He established the Wolfson Foundation to distribute most of his fortune to good causes. Great Universal Stores was a mail order business...
, a Jewish philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
form Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The Wolfson family consecrated the synagogue in the memory of the six million Jews who perished in the holocaust and to the fallen soldiers of Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
.
The style of the building was modeled on the Jewish Temple
Jewish temple
Jewish temple:*Jewish temple or The Jewish Temple, may refer to the original two ancient Jewish Temples in Jerusalem.**The First Temple was destroyed by the ancient Babylonians in 586 BCE.**The Second Temple was destroyed by Rome in 70 CE....
which once stood in Jerusalem. The inauguration
Inauguration
An inauguration is a formal ceremony to mark the beginning of a leader's term of office. An example is the ceremony in which the President of the United States officially takes the oath of office....
took place on Tu B'Av
Tu B'Av
Tu B'Av is a minor Jewish holiday. In modern-day Israel, it is celebrated as a holiday of love , similar to Valentine's Day...
1982. Naftali Hershtik was appointed the chief cantor
Hazzan
A hazzan or chazzan is a Jewish cantor, a musician trained in the vocal arts who helps lead the congregation in songful prayer.There are many rules relating to how a cantor should lead services, but the idea of a cantor as a paid professional does not exist in classical rabbinic sources...
of the synagogue, a position he held up to 31 December 2008 succeeded by Haim Adler.
The sanctuary seats 850 men and 550 women.
A comprehensive private collection of mezuzah
Mezuzah
A mezuzah is usually a metal or wooden rectangular object that is fastened to a doorpost of a Jewish house. Inside it is a piece of parchment inscribed with specified Hebrew verses from the Torah...
cases is on show inside the lobby.
On 8 August 2009, on the Shabbat
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
of the weekly Torah portion of Eikev
Eikev
Eikev, Ekev, Ekeb, or Eqeb is the 46th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the third in the book of Deuteronomy...
, a commemoration of the synagogue's 27th anniversary was held with the visiting renowned hazzan
Hazzan
A hazzan or chazzan is a Jewish cantor, a musician trained in the vocal arts who helps lead the congregation in songful prayer.There are many rules relating to how a cantor should lead services, but the idea of a cantor as a paid professional does not exist in classical rabbinic sources...
Yitzchak Meir Helfgot. Attendance, estimated at over 3000, outnumbered the seating capacity, constrained attendants to close the doors forty-five minutes prior to the beginning of services and deny entrance to hundreds still outside which led to minor violence by frustrated people. The idea to offer tickets ahead of time was not accepted by the synagogue rabbi. The evening services lasted about two hours and the morning services about five hours.