Beneath the Jerusalem sky stands Ohel Yitzchak Synagogue. Also known as the Shomrei ha-Chomos Synagogue or the Ungarin Shul this is a remarkable place. It’s located in the heart of the Muslim Quarter in Jerusalem’s Old City. Its history is rich with both triumph and tragedy.
In 1862 students of Rabbi Moses Sofer arrived from Hungary. They formed a community called Shomrei HaChomos Guardians of the Walls. During the 1870s they built a yeshiva near the Chain Gate. They purchased the land from the Muslim Khaladi family. Rabbi Yitzchok Ratsdorfer a diamond merchant financed the project.
By 1892 the community established a neighborhood outside the Old City walls called Batei Ungarin. This is part of what is now Meah Shearim. In 1904 the yeshiva was expanded. A second story was added. Ottoman authorities warned against this. They opposed the roof being taller than the Dome of the Rock. The roof was completed overnight. This ensured that the building would stand. Turkish law prevented the demolition of completed structures.
The building housed the Ohr Meir yeshiva. Students studied there 24 hours a day. The upper floor contained two prayer rooms. One was for Chasidim using Nusach Sefard. The other was for Perushim using Nusach Ashkenaz. A mikvah was also located within the building.
The 1938 riots forced the Jews to leave. They relocated to Meah Shearim. Arabs rented the building until the 1948 war. The building was destroyed during that conflict. Its members relocated their entire organization Kolel Shomrei HaChomos to other locations.
After the Six-Day War in 1967 only the ground floor remained. It became a Jewish bookstore. Later the Religious Zionist organization Ateret Cohanim bought the building. An American charity funded by Irving Moskowitz helped with the purchase. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation managed the site and excavations.
In October 2008 the yeshiva was reopened as a synagogue. The painstaking reconstruction replicated original features. The high dome walnut benches and geometric windows are stunning. The synagogue is a testament to resilience faith and the enduring spirit of Jerusalem. Ohel Yitzchak stands as a symbol of hope. It serves the community and visitors alike. It’s a jewel in the heart of the Old City a place where history echoes and faith thrives.