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Four Sephardi Synagogues

Diagram showing the overlap of four synagogues

The "Four Sephardic synagogues" are located in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. They form a set of four synagogues juxtaposed, built at different times to meet the needs of the Sephardic. In each synagogue's offices are charged according to a rite different.

After the closing of the Ramban Synagogue , ordered by the Sultan Ottoman Murad III in 1589 , there is no place for Jewish prayer to Jerusalem , and Jews , many of whom are descendants of immigrants coming to Spain after their expulsion in 1492 are obliged to pray privately in their own homes. In the early seventeenth century , opens a new synagogue named Yohanan ben Zakkai synagogue.

In 1835 Mehemet Ali , viceroy of Egypt , which at that time head of the Palestine and Jerusalem, authorizes the restoration of synagogues, which had been banned since their construction. At the entrance of the synagogue in Istanbul, a plaque recalls the restoration.

After the fall of the Jewish Quarter in the Arab-Israeli war of 1948-1949 , the synagogues are burned, desecrated and turned into stables. The synagogues are restored by architect Dan Tanai after the Six Day War.

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Yohanan ben Zakkai Synagogue

Installing Hakham Bashi of Jerusalem synagogue Yohanan ben Zakkai in 1893

According to legend, the synagogue Yohanan Ben Zakai, (in Hebrew ), also known as Kahal Kadosh Gadol of, would be located at the site of Beth Midrash (house of study) of tanna Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai , who established the Sanhedrin in Yavneh after the destruction of the Second Temple of Jerusalem by the Romans. The current building was built in the early seventeenth century.

Yohanan ben Zakkai synagogue currently

A piece of land located below the street was chosen to build the synagogue in order to conceal the building authorities. Meir Ben Dov, however argues that at the time, the street level was lower, and that the synagogue should automatically be visible from the street. Over time, buildings around the synagogue were demolished and new houses were built on their ruins, while the synagogue has been preserved. This cycle continued until today, so that the synagogue is now below the street level. Although construction has been authorized by the Turkish authorities, the building was, however, comply with the restrictions imposed by the Muslim houses of prayer of dhimmis , and not be higher than the mosques Istanbul synagogue

Metal engraving representing the synagogue around 1825 Instanbul

The Sephardic community of Jerusalem is growing and soon 1764 , a large group of immigrants coming from Istanbul in Turkey using an adjacent building as a synagogue. Over time, the Istanbul Synagogue (Hebrew: ) also attracts loyal communities of Central Asia , such as Kurdistan or North Africa and West Africa. Istanbul synagogue is now used by Spanish Jews and Portuguese following essentially the rite of London .

The Holy Ark dated seventeenth century and comes from a synagogue destroyed in Ancona (Italy). The bimah , built in the eighteenth century from a synagogue in Pesaro , also in Italy. The synagogue was renovated in 1836.

During the Arab-Israeli war of 1948-1949, the synagogue was occupied by Arabs when Israel regained control of the Old City of Jerusalem after the Six Day War, the synagogue was completely restored.

Istanbul synagogue is the largest of the four Sephardic synagogues and is used during the installation ceremonies of the Grand Rabbi of Israel Sephardic.

Eliyahu Hanavi synagogue

The other synagogue dates from the sixteenth century and was named after the prophet Elijah. This synagogue is the oldest of four. Eliyahu Hanavi synagogue serves primarily as Beth Midrash (house of study) to study the Torah. Also known as Kahal of Talmud Torah, it is used for prayers during the days festivities. According to legend, the name of the synagogue was given after an event that occurred one day of Yom Kippur. He then missed a person to get the Miniane (quorum of ten adult men) needed for the prayers. Suddenly a stranger appeared and the faithful office could begin. The man disappeared after prayer Ne'ilah , which marks the end of Yom Kippur, as mysteriously as it had appeared. People were convinced that the man was the prophet Elijah himself.

The synagogue's current environment

Synagogue Emtsai

Synagogue Synagogue Emtsai or the environment, (Hebrew: ), also known as the Synagogue Kahal Zion is located in the central part of the complex. Initially, it was the courtyard of the synagogue Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai, where was the section reserved for women. During the festival of Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), it was converted into a sukkah for the faithful.

With the growth of the community, it was decided in the mid eighteenth century to cover the court with a roof. Located in the middle of the three other synagogues, she quickly took the name of the synagogue community.