Modeled after the Jewish Holy Temple, Jerusalem’s Great Synagogue is a majestic structure located on King George Street in the center of town. The Great Synagogue was established in 1982 after the adjacent Heichal Shlomo building could no longer contain the throngs of worshipers who were turning up for Sabbath services every week.
The Great Synagogue is dedicated to the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust, as well as Israel’s fallen in the 1948 War of Independence. Services in the main sanctuary on Shabbat and holidays are regularly led by top hazzanim (cantors) in the old Ashkenazi style.
The sanctuary houses breathtaking stained-glass windows and a magnificent chandelier hanging above the ark, and the acoustics effectively transmit the professional choir's renditions.
There is also a Sephardic synagogue in the building, and a collection of contemporary mezuzah cases that is among the largest in the world. Those who enjoy the old-world splendor of Ashkenazi liturgical music are advised to stop by on a Saturday morning for Sabbath services – it’s a rare treat.
