“Outstanding” is how some describe Ohel Yisrael. Today, we explore this gem in Jerusalem.
Ohel Yisrael, also known as Ohel Yitzchak Synagogue has a rich history. It stands in the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City. This synagogue represents resilience and rebirth.
Back in the 1870s Hungarian Jews formed an organization. They called it Shomrei HaChomos Guardians of the Walls. They built a yeshiva, a religious school. It stood near the Chain Gate. The courtyard was bought from the Khaladi family. Rabbi Yitzchok Ratsdorfer, a diamond merchant funded the building.
In 1892, the community expanded beyond the Old City. They established a neighborhood called Batei Ungarin. It is part of Meah Shearim today. The yeshiva in the Old City expanded in 1904. Ottoman authorities initially opposed the expansion. They worried the roof would be taller than the Dome of the Rock. Construction was completed overnight to circumvent this issue. Turkish law protected finished buildings from demolition.
The yeshiva, Ohr Meir, occupied the ground floor. Students studied Torah around the clock. The top floor had two prayer rooms. One was for Chasidim and one for Perushim. The building even had a mikvah.
The riots of 1920 and 1929 disrupted the yeshiva. In 1938, Arab violence forced the community to leave. They relocated to Meah Shearim. The building was rented to Arabs. It was destroyed in the 1948 Arab Israeli War.
After the Six Day War in 1967 only the ground floor remained. It became a Jewish bookstore. Later, Ateret Cohanim, a Religious Zionist organization stepped in. With funding from Irving Moskowitz, an American businessman, they bought the building. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation managed the site and excavations. In October 2008, the yeshiva reopened as a synagogue.
The rebuilt Ohel Yisrael evokes the past. It uses elegant and expensive materials. The two story building features a high dome. Walnut colored benches and faceted pane glass windows adorn the space. Marble flooring and scalloped designs enhance the walls and ceiling.
The bima, Holy Ark, and chandeliers replicate the originals from 1891. There is a library and small simcha hall next to the women’s balcony. Ongoing excavations beneath the men’s section hint at dramatic discoveries. They might even reveal finds from the Second Temple period.
The acoustics are excellent due to the dome’s height. The building is well maintained thanks to Shalom Dayan. The renovated roof offers unique panoramic views.
Why did it take so long to rebuild this synagogue? The site was once a Turkish hamam. The Hungarian kollel purchased it in 1875. In 1891, Yitzchak Ratzdorfer funded two synagogues on the second floor. They were for Hassidim and Perushim. The synagogues were renovated in 1917. Yosef HaCohen Moskovitz funded that expansion.
Hard times befell the Jewish residents. Riots in 1921, 1929, and 1936 forced many to leave. Ohel Yisrael was abandoned. The synagogue and yeshiva relocated to Mea Shearim. During the War of Independence, the place was desecrated. The second floor was destroyed.
After the Six Day War, Shomrei HaChomot wanted to return. The municipality wouldn’t permit renovation due to structural dangers. Chanoch Ben Arza opened a bookstore in the remaining ground floor.
With funding from Irving Moskovitz, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation leased the property. They resurrected the synagogue in its dignified form.
Yechiel Pomerantz explains the renovation’s significance. Ohel Yitzchak is a Beit Mikdash meat a small Temple. It should stand as near as possible to the real Beit HaMikdash Temple.
Ohel Yisrael serves Old City residents, visitors, and yeshiva boys. Its entrance is off the main artery leading to the Western Wall. The entrance is elegant and traditional.
Ohel Yisrael stands as a testament to Jewish history. It embodies resilience, faith, and the enduring spirit of Jerusalem. It is a gem for lovers of Zion. It fulfills the dream of the Hungarian kollel leaders.