Great Synagogue (Petah Tikva)

For similarly named synagogues, see Great Synagogue.

Great Synagogue of Petah Tikva
Hebrew: בית הכנסת הגדול בפתח תקוה
The synagogue façade, in 2010
Religion
Affiliation	Orthodox Judaism
Rite	Nusach Ashkenaz
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Synagogue
Status	Active
Location
Location	Petah Tikva, Central District
Country	Israel
Location of the synagogue in Central Israel
Geographic coordinates	32°5′20.52″N 34°53′4.6″E
Architecture
Architect(s)	Daniel HaCohen Lifshitz
Type	Synagogue architecture
Funded by	Baron Edmond James de Rothschild
Groundbreaking	1885
Completed	1900

The Great Synagogue of Petah Tikva (Hebrew: בית הכנסת הגדול בפתח תקוה) is an Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located on Hovevei Zion Street, in the centre of Petah Tikva, in the Central District of Israel. Completed in 1900, the building was designed by Daniel HaCohen Lifshitz, and is one of the pioneering residents of the city, and was named Beit Yaacov Synagogue, in honour of James Mayer de Rothschild, the father of the Baron Edmond James de Rothschild.

History

Construction of the Great Synagogue of Petah Tikva began in 1885 with a contribution from the Hovevei Zion movement.^[1] Edmond James de Rothschild donated the money needed to complete the building, which was named Beit Yaacov in honor of his father.^[2]

The building includes a main sanctuary with overlooking women's section, as well as two smaller adjoining prayer rooms, and another room used for studying and praying. In the 1930s, a copper dome was added on the eastern facade. Six medallion images were painted between the arches of the central hall with depictions of Rachel's Tomb, the Western Wall, the Tomb of Absalom, a seven-branched menorah and the burial sites of Zaddikim in Tiberias.^[2]

The official nusach of the prayer is Nusach Ashkenaz, but throughout the day, the synagogue facilities act as a shtiebel with multiple parallel prayer sessions where the nusach is decided by the hazzan.

In the late 2000s, the synagogue was the target of vandals who spray-painted swastikas and other Nazi-themed words on the building and inside on multiple events.^[3]

Conservation work was then carried out on the synagogue, restoring it in keeping with blueprints from the 1930s.^[2]

Gallery

• 
  Exterior clock
• 
  Sundial
• 
  Interior
• 
  Interior

See also

• Architecture of Israel
• List of synagogues in Israel
• History of the Jews in Israel

References

1. Aharonson, Ran (January 15, 2000). Rothschild and Early Jewish Colonization in Palestine. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 192. ISBN 9780742509146 – via Google Books.
2. "Religious Renewal". Haaretz. November 22, 2019.
3. Stoil, Rebecca Anna (May 4, 2006). "Petah Tikva Synagogue Desecrated". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on October 4, 2008. Retrieved October 21, 2008 – via Pogrom.co.il.

External links

Media related to Great Synagogue in Petah Tikva at Wikimedia Commons