Great Synagogue (Jerusalem)
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| Jerusalem Great Synagogue | |
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| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Location |  Jerusalem, Israel |
| Religious affiliation | Orthodox Judaism |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | Alexander Freidman |
| Year completed | 1982 |
| Construction cost | $18,000,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 1,400 |
The Great Synagogue of Jerusalem, (Hebrew: בית הכנסת הגדול ירושלים), is located at 58 King George Street, Jerusalem, Israel.
As early as 1923 the Chief Rabbis 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 progressed 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. Rabbi Dr. David M. Fuld is the newly appointed president of the synagogue.
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 holds to this day.
The sanctuary seats 850 men and 550 women.
A comprehensive private collection of mezuzah cases is on show inside the entrance hall.
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