The Ruin that Still Stands
The “Hurva” Synagogue (The Ruin Synagogue), or in its full name "Ruin of Rabbi Judah the Pious”, is one of the main synagogues in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. It stands out from afar thanks to its large white dome, and serves as one of the major symbols of the Jewish quarter and the entire old city.
The synagogue stands in the center of the "Courtyard of the Ashkenazim" (Arabic: "Dir al-Shiknez"), a complex that was purchased by Ashkenazi Jews at the beginning of the 15th century from the Muslims. The community members built a small synagogue in the compound, the first in number, and several other buildings. In 1692 the first synagogue collapsed. The members of the community raised donations and began to build a new synagogue, the second in number, which was completed at the beginning of the year 1700. This synagogue is associated with Rabbi Judah the Pious who immigrated to Israel from Poland with hundreds of his followers and arrived in Jerusalem towards the end of that year. In 1720, the synagogue was destroyed by Arab creditors due to unpaid debts, and the Ashkenazi Jews were expelled from Jerusalem. The complex remained ruined for about 100 years, and hence the synagogue was nicknamed The Ruin.
At the beginning of the 18th century, Ashkenazi Jews returned to live in the old city. In 1837, permission was received from the ruler of Egypt, Muhammad Ali, to build a new synagogue. The construction of the synagogue, the third in number, began only twenty years later, in 1857, with the patronage of the philanthropist Moses Montefiore and Baron Alphonse from the Rothschild family. The synagogue was even named "Jacob’s House" after the Baron's father, James Jacob. It was finally inaugurated with a large ceremony in 1864, and despite its size and splendor it continued to be known by its popular nickname The Ruin. The main institutions of the Ashkenazi community in Jerusalem were also located around the synagogue.
After the occupation of East Jerusalem by the soldiers of the Arab Legion, the synagogue was blown up on May 27, 1948 and destroyed, along with large parts of the Jewish Quarter. After the occupation of Jerusalem in the Six Day War in 1967, the synagogue was not rebuilt as part of the district's reconstruction plan. For years there was only one large arch that was symbolically restored to mark the synagogue.
Only at the beginning of the 21st century was it decided to restore the synagogue, for the fourth time, and construction began in 2003. During archaeological excavations that took place in the area where the synagogue stood, remains from the Second Temple period and the Byzantine period were found, which are currently displayed in its basement. The structure of the new synagogue was based on its predecessor, and some of the surviving ruins were even incorporated into the new building. The interior of the synagogue was designed and restored as accurately as possible, based on photos, testimonies and a model built in 1912. Once the construction and restoration process finished, the synagogue was inaugurated in 2010.
During the rebuilding of the synagogue, a “Slik”, or weapons hideout, built by the Etzel underground movement was discovered below the location of the Holy Ark. The hideout was built in 1942 as part of a plan to combat a possible occupation of the Land of Israel by the Nazis. The hideout was unknown to the defenders of the Jewish Quarter during the War of Independence, and after the fall of the Old City to the Jordanians, it was completely forgotten.
From the roof of the synagogue there is a wonderful view of the old city and its surroundings.
(Anecdote authored by: עמיר)
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עִבְרִית