The Hurva Synagogue dominates the skyline of the Jewish Quarter with its white stone dome, a landmark visible from across the city. The name “Hurva” means “ruin,” a name that tells the story of a building destroyed and rebuilt not once but twice, each time rising from the rubble to reclaim its place as the most important Ashkenazi synagogue in Jerusalem.
First Destruction
The original synagogue was built in 1701 by a group of Ashkenazi Jews led by Rabbi Yehuda HeHasid, who immigrated to Jerusalem from Poland. The community fell into debt, and in 1721, Arab creditors burned the synagogue. The ruins stood for over a century, and the site became known as “the Ruin of Rabbi Yehuda HeHasid.”
Rebuilding and Second Destruction
In 1864, the synagogue was rebuilt in a grand neo-Byzantine style, with a large dome that became the most prominent feature of the Jewish Quarter skyline. The Hurva became the spiritual center of Ashkenazi Jewry in Jerusalem, the site of chief rabbinical installations, community celebrations, and the place where, in 1948, the defenders of the Jewish Quarter made their last stand.
During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the Jordanian Arab Legion captured the Jewish Quarter after fierce fighting. The Hurva was systematically destroyed by the Jordanian forces. For 19 years, from 1948 to 1967, the Jewish Quarter lay in Jordanian hands, and its synagogues, including the Hurva, were demolished or desecrated.
Third Hurva
After Israel recaptured the Old City in 1967, the Jewish Quarter was rebuilt, but the Hurva remained a ruin for decades while architects debated how to reconstruct it. A single memorial arch was erected in 1977 to mark the site. Finally, in 2010, the synagogue was rebuilt according to the 19th-century design, with its signature dome restored to its place on the skyline. The rededication was an emotional moment for the Jewish community, closing a circle of destruction and renewal that had lasted 62 years.
Interior
The rebuilt synagogue features a soaring interior with four massive pillars supporting the dome, stained glass windows, and a balcony offering panoramic views of the Old City, including the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives. The synagogue is an active house of worship, and services are held daily.
Visit with Hoshen Tours
The Hurva tells the story of Jerusalem’s Jewish community through architecture. Hoshen Tours visits the synagogue and its balcony as part of Jewish Quarter itineraries.