“Did you know that Ohel Yitzhak Synagogue has a fascinating history of destruction and rebirth?” That is a fitting question. We are standing before Ohel Yitzhak. It stands as a testament to resilience and faith. Ohel Yitzhak is also known as the Shomrei ha-Chomos Synagogue. Some also call it the Ungarin Shul. This Orthodox Jewish congregation has a rich heritage in Jerusalem’s Old City.
Let’s step back in time to the 1870s. Students of Rabbi Moses Sofer from Hungary arrived in Jerusalem. They established a community called Shomrei HaChomos. It means Guardians of the Walls. They built a yeshiva near the Chain Gate in the Muslim Quarter. The courtyard was purchased from the Muslim Khaladi family. Rabbi Yitzchok Ratsdorfer financed the building. He was a diamond merchant and belonged to the Hasidic group Belz.
In 1892, the community expanded beyond the Old City walls. They established Batei Ungarin. This is now part of Meah Shearim. In 1904, the yeshiva in the Old City was expanded. A second story was added. Ottoman authorities initially opposed the extension. They were concerned that the roof would be taller than the Dome of the Rock. Construction of the roof was completed overnight. This ensured the building’s completion. Turkish law stated that once a building was erected, it could not be demolished.
The ground floor housed the yeshiva, Ohr Meir. Students studied Torah around the clock. The top floor had two prayer rooms. One was for the Chasidim. They used Nusach Sefard. The other was for the Perushim. They used Nusach Ashkenaz. The building also contained a mikvah.
The riots of 1920 and 1929 disrupted the yeshiva. However, Jews frequented the building until 1938. Arab violence forced them to vacate the premises. Members relocated to Meah Shearim. The building was rented to Arabs. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, it was destroyed.
The members relocated their entire organization. This organization was named Kolel Shomrei HaChomos. They moved to Meah Shearim, Givat Shaul, and Ramat Shlomo. They built new buildings and synagogues. These were called Kiryas Shomrei HaChomos. Kolel Shomrei HaChomos is closely affiliated with the Edah HaChareidis. It is considered part of it.
After the Six-Day War in 1967, only the ground floor remained intact. It was turned into a Jewish bookstore. Years later, the Religious Zionist organization Ateret Cohanim stepped in. They encouraged an American charity to buy the building. The charity was funded by Irving Moskowitz. He was a regular donor to right-wing groups in East Jerusalem. The organization gave the Western Wall Heritage Foundation the right to manage the site. They also managed the excavations. In October 2008, the yeshiva was officially reopened as a synagogue.
A comprehensive archaeological dig was conducted. It was done in cooperation with the Israel Antiquities Authority. They reconstructed the building over a 10-year period. They used remnants of the destroyed building found at the site. In the excavation begun in 2004, three steps were found. These dated back to the Second Temple period. They suggested a monumental staircase leading to Warren’s Gate. This was the closest entrance to the Holy of Holies. A major discovery was a giant public bathhouse from the Mameluke period. It lies below the entire site. According to IAA archaeologist Yuval Baruch, this is the most complete relic of the Mameluke period ever discovered in Jerusalem.
Today, Ohel Yitzchak stands as a symbol of perseverance. It shows the enduring spirit of the Jewish community in Jerusalem. Its history is etched in every stone. It tells a story of faith, destruction, and ultimately, renewal.