The Great Synagogue in Jerusalem, Israel

This week I am taking a little side trip from Biblical sites to other Holyland sites; I shall return to Biblical sites next week. The Great Synagogue in Jerusalem was built to replace the Hurva (also spelt Churva) Synagogue in the Old City which was destroyed by the Palestinians and Jordanians in the 1948 War of Independence. Construction began in 1958 but the Great Synagogue was not completed until 1982. It serves as a religious center for Israel.

The synagogue is large and houses offices, religious courts, library, and a museum. The synagogue’s main sanctuary is on the second floor where a large congregation can be seated.

The sanctuary can seat 850 men on the main floor and 550 women in the balcony. At the head of the sanctuary is the ark made from white Jerusalem stone. The ark contains the Torah (scriptures) written on scrolls. During Sabbath services the scrolls are removed and read with great reverence. The Torah reading as well as the sermon takes place on the bima, a stand or raised platform.

Attached to the Great Synagogue is the Heichal Shlomo, the seat of the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel. Israel is unique as it has two Chief Rabbis, one Ashkenazi (or of the European tradition) and one Sephardi (or of the Middle East/Oriental tradition). Many countries have a chief rabbi. Rulers throughout history (beginning in the middle-ages) found it useful to have a point of contact to the Jewish community. But not all countries have them, the United States for example does not.

Both chief rabbis in Israel are elected by 75 chief rabbis of cities (and the army chief rabbi), and 75 politicians. The two chief rabbis serve for a 10 year term which will expire the summer 2024. The two rabbis oversee some important facts governing the lives of all Israeli citizens. Such as, defining who is and who is not Jewish. This is an important distinction regarding who can easily immigrate and who can marry who. They also are the decision maker of granting divorces, and what foods are given the kosher approval. Marriages in Israel are only performed by religious leaders, there is no judge or secular marriages. However, Judaism is not unified like Catholics or the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Judaism is closer to Protestantism where each congregation will have similarities but can differ greatly by practice and non-crucial points of doctrine. A very many rulings by the chief rabbis are ignored by the secular majority of Israelis. Even the various religious adherents such as the ultra-orthodox Hasidim ignore the chief rabbi in favor of their own rabbi.

The exterior of the Great Synagogue is inspired by Solomon’s Temple. It was not immediately obvious to me, but as I look at the building front I can kind of see it.

For more information on the Chief Rabbinical system in Israel, I refer you to a recent editorial in the Jerusalem Post:

– Two rabbis too many? A look at Israel’s confusing chief rabbi system