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Four Sephardic Synagogues
The Four Sephardic Synagogues are a complex of four adjoining synagogues located in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. The four synagogues include:
The synagogues were built to accommodate the religious needs of Jerusalem's Sephardic community, with each congregation practicing a different rite, and most remain in active use. _in_Old_City_of_Jerusalem_map_by_Survey_of_Palestine_map_1-2,500_(cropped).jpg)  The four synagogues; the left hand map is a 1936-47 Survey of Palestine map (only three of the synagogues are highlighted) HistoryIn 1586, the Ottoman government closed the Ramban Synagogue (est. 1400) because it shared a wall with a mosque. As the only other synagogue in Jerusalem at the time belonged to the Karaite minority, followers of mainstream Rabbinic Judaism, including many descendants of refugees from the 1492 expulsion from Spain, held services in private homes for several years until completing the new Yochanan ben Zakai Synagogue nearby.[1] In 1835, Muhammad Ali, viceroy of Egypt who ruled Jerusalem at the time, permitted the refurbishment of the synagogues which had been denied since their construction. At the entrance to the Istanbuli Synagogue is a plaque commemorating the restoration.[1] In 1845, Joseph Schwarz, considered by the Jewish Encyclopedia as "the greatest Jewish authority on Palestinian matters since Estori Farḥi"[2] stated that the buildings were knocked down and completely rebuilt:[3]
After the fall of the Jewish Quarter during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War the synagogues were damaged by shell fire. During the Jordanian rule, between 1948 and 1967 the buildings of synagogues were used as donkey stables.[4][5] After the Six-Day War the synagogues were restored by architect Dan Tanai.[citation needed] Individual synagogues
Yochanan ben Zakai SynagogueAccording to legend, the Yochanan ben Zakai Synagogue (Hebrew: בית הכנסת יוחנן בן זכאי), also known as Kahal Kadosh Gadol, is believed to stand on the spot of the Beit Midrash of the tanna Rabban Yochanan ben Zakai,[6] who established the Sanhedrin in Yavneh after the destruction of the Second Temple. The current building was constructed at the beginning of the 17th century,[citation needed] and by 1947, it was the largest synagogue of the Sephardic community in Jerusalem.[7] Since the end of the 19th century, it has served as the site of the Sephardic Chief Rabbi's installation.[8] A piece of land below street level was chosen for the synagogue in order to conceal the building from the authorities. Meir Ben Dov, however, is of the opinion that the sub-street level plot wasn't intentionally chosen, but rather that the street level itself was lower at the time and the synagogue had protruded above the street. With time the dwellings surrounding the synagogue were demolished and new houses were built above them, while the synagogue itself was preserved. This cycle continued until today, resulting in the synagogue being situated below street level. It should nevertheless be noted that if construction was indeed permitted, the building itself had to comply with Muslim restrictions for dhimmi houses of prayer not to be higher than mosques.[9] Located in the old Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem, it suffered the same fate as most of the synagogues in the area during the 19 year Jordanian rule after 1948. It has been fully refurbished since Israel gained control of the Old City during the Six-Day War. This work was initiated by Rabbi Meir Yehuda Getz, Rabbi of the Western Wall, who also restored the Yeshivat haMekubalim to its former glory.[citation needed] Unlike most synagogues, the Yochanan Ben Zakai Synagogue contains two Holy Arks - one for the Torah scrolls and one for other holy books. Other unique features include the oil jar and Shofar that are kept on a glass shelf by the southern wall's window. Tradition held that these were ancient relicts of the Temple, which could only be used to herald the arrival of the Messiah and in his subsequent anointing ceremony, while a 19th century account by Abraham Moses Luncz implies that the oil jug's importance was connected to the ritual of Shituf Mevo'ot.[10] The original relics disappeared following the destruction of the synagogue in 1948 and were replaced with the modern iterations seen today. Istanbuli SynagogueThe Istanbuli Synagogue (Hebrew: בית הכנסת האיסטנבולי) was formed from 1764, as the Sephardic community of Jerusalem grew due to large groups of immigrants who arrived from Istanbul, Turkey. They used the adjacent building as a synagogue and attracted worshipers from the Eastern communities, including Kurdistan and from North and West Africa.[citation needed] The Hekhal dates from the seventeenth century and was imported from a synagogue which had been destroyed in Ancona, Italy. The Teba, constructed in the eighteenth century, came from a synagogue in Pesaro, Italy. The synagogue was renovated in 1836.[citation needed] During the 1947–1949 Palestine war, the synagogue was occupied by Arabs. After Israel gained control of the Old City during the Six-Day War, it was renovated.[citation needed] Today, the Istanbuli Synagogue is used by a Spanish and Portuguese congregation following mostly the London rite,[11] established in 1980 as Congregation Shaare Ratzon. A description of the synagogue was published in 1947 as follows:
Eliahu Ha'navi SynagogueAnother synagogue was established in anno 1586 CE[13] and named after Elijah the Prophet. This synagogue is the oldest of the four. The Eliyahu Ha'navi Synagogue mainly served as a beth midrash for Torah study. Also known as Kahal Talmud Torah, it was only used for prayer on festivals. According to legend, the name of the synagogue was given after an event that took place on Yom Kippur, when one person was missing to complete the minyan required for prayer. Out of nowhere, a man unknown to the worshippers appeared and the service was able to start. The man mysteriously disappeared after the Neilah prayer. The people were sure that the man was none other than Elijah the Prophet. Emtsai SynagogueThe Emtsai Synagogue or Middle Synagogue (Hebrew: בית הכנסת האמצעי), also known as the Kahal Tzion Synagogue, forms the central chamber of the complex. It was originally a courtyard which was probably used as the women's section of the Rabban Yohanan Ben Zakai synagogue. During Sukkot, it could be converted into a sukkah for the worshippers. With the growth of the community, it was decided during the middle of the 18th century to roof the yard. It was turned into what is today known as the Middle Synagogue, due to its location in the "middle" of the other three synagogues.[citation needed] See alsoReferences
External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Four Sephardi synagogues.
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