Perhaps the most important mitzvah in Judaism is Ahavat Yisrael. We are standing before Aavat Israel Synagogue. This concept means to have love of one’s fellow Jew. It is a biblical idea. The Chabad movement elaborated upon it. The source of Ahavat Yisrael comes from Leviticus 19:18.
Now, let’s delve deeper. The Zionist Rabbinic Coalition has linked Ahavat Yisrael to Zionism. This group includes American Reform, Conservative, and Modern Orthodox rabbis. In 2022, the organization claimed that anti-Zionist Jews lack Ahavat Yisrael. They suggested these individuals should not be ordained as rabbis. This shows how deeply the concept is intertwined with Jewish identity.
The Hurva Synagogue was once the largest and most magnificent synagogue in the Holy Land. This ruin stood in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City. It was destroyed on May 27, 1948. The Arab Legion detonated a bomb at the top of its dome. The destruction was a devastating act.
The Hurva Synagogue’s destruction required immense effort. The Arab conquerors worked hard to decimate it. Puah Shteiner described the synagogue’s grandeur. She lived in the Jewish Quarter in 1948. She recalled its white marble floor and high walls. Three stories of stained-glass windows adorned it. The holy Ark overlaid with gold stood on the Eastern wall. Shining chandeliers and a sky-blue dome completed the scene.
The Hurva Synagogue hosted important events for the Jewish community. Chief Rabbis were inaugurated here. Representatives of Ottoman and British governments honored the community. Lord Herbert Samuel, the first Lord High Commissioner, was called to the Torah here. He was a Jew and a Zionist.
After the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel rebuilt the Jewish Quarter. The Jordanians had destroyed or desecrated many synagogues. The Sephardi Yohannon ben Zakkai Synagogue was used as a garbage dump. Months were spent clearing the garbage before restoration. Only the eastern wall and the bima of the Hurva remained. An arch was built to commemorate the original southern arch. This arch became a symbol of the Jewish quarter. It represented former glory and destruction.
The Hurva Synagogue was first built in 1701. Followers of Rabbi Yehuda HaHasid established it. He brought Ashkenazi Jews from Germany and Moravia. He died three days after arriving in Jerusalem. His community could not pay debts or heavy taxes. After 20 years, Arabs banished the Ashkenazi Jews. They burned down the synagogue with its 40 Torah scrolls. For 150 years, it lay in ruins, named “Hurva,” meaning “ruin.”
In the early 19th century, followers of the Goan of Vilna arrived. In 1836, they obtained permission to rebuild the Hurva. Funds were collected worldwide. The Ottoman Sultan’s architect designed the Byzantine building. In 1864, the synagogue was dedicated. It was named “Beit Yaakov,” after Baron Jacob Rothschild. But everyone called it the Hurva.
After four years of construction, the rebuilt Hurva was dedicated. The dedication occurred on the first day of Nissan. This date was chosen because Moses’ Tabernacle was dedicated on the same day.
The Arabs rioted in response to the Hurva dedication. Hamas called for a “Day of Rage.” Imams proclaimed the Al-Aqsa mosque was under attack. They claimed the Hurva’s reconstruction was a step toward rebuilding the Temple.
The prayer leader yelled out, “Blessed are You God, WHO BUILDS JERUSALEM.” Jews have uttered this prayer for 2,000 years. The Hurva’s rebuilding fulfills God’s promise. The Hurva stands again in splendor. Its message is clear: The spirit of the Jewish people can be routed, but never vanquished.