Great Synagogue (Tel Aviv)

The Great Synagogue of Tel Aviv (בית כנסת הגדול) is located at 110 Allenby Street, Tel Aviv, Israel, just east of the Shalom Meir Tower. It was designed by Yehuda Magidovitch and completed in 1926. The synagogue underwent significant renovations in 1969, including the addition of a modernist facade with arches.

In the past, the synagogue was situated in the heart of Little Tel Aviv, but today it stands in the city's bustling business and financial district. Due to demographic changes in the 1960s, its congregation has dwindled, with the synagogue now primarily used for Jewish weddings and special occasions.

History


In 1913, a cornerstone was laid for the Great Synagogue on Yehuda Halevi Street. However, construction was postponed due to various reasons. In 1914, an architectural competition was held for the new site on Allenby Street, which was won by architect Richard Michael. With the outbreak of World War I, Michael was unable to complete the project and was replaced by Alexander Baerwald, a Jewish German architect. Construction finally commenced in 1924 based on the plans of Yehuda Magidovitch and was completed in 1926 with support from a donation by Baron Rothschild. The dome was engineered by Arpad Geuthe.

In 1969, architect Aryeh Elhanani led a renovation that modernized the synagogue, adding arches and updating the interior to reflect contemporary tastes in architecture and design.



The synagogue features a large dome, intricate lighting, and stained glass windows that replicate those lost in European synagogues during the Holocaust.

Building Periphery


Architect Ze'ev Rechter planned an Italian-style plaza around the synagogue in the late 1930s, although only part of the plan was executed.

Weapon Storage
Following the King David Hotel bombing in 1946, weapons were discovered in the synagogue's basement. The caretaker, Eliezer Neuman, was subsequently detained by British military authorities and sentenced to a one-year term.

Events
The Great Synagogue hosted the magazine Synagogue from 1946 to 1948. In 1985, scenes from the film Alex Is Lovesick were shot here.

Recent Renovations
In 2016, restoration efforts began to restore the synagogue's original 1920s appearance, funded by the municipality and businessman Patrick Drahi.

Acknowledgments
This article incorporates translated information from the Hebrew Wikipedia article בית כנסת הגדול (תל אביב).