A Moment in Jewish History: The Legacy of Hurva Synagogue
On this day, Cheshvan 8, 299 years ago, the synagogue of Rabbi Yehuda HeHasid was set ablaze for the first time.
- דבי רייכמן
- פורסם ח' חשון התש"פ
The interior of the Hurva Synagogue between 1934–1939, from the Library of Congress collection #VALUE!
The 'Hurva' Synagogue of Rabbi Yehuda HeHasid, located in the heart of the Jewish Quarter in Jerusalem's Old City, was built by a group of followers who came to the land with Rabbi Yehuda HeHasid in the early 18th century. The synagogue served the Jewish community in the area. Over the years, the synagogue faced legal, political, and even physical attacks. Following Rabbi Yehuda HeHasid's passing, the community and the synagogue fell into significant debt to the local Muslims.
On Cheshvan 8, 1721, the Muslim creditors burned down the synagogue and expelled all European Jews from Jerusalem. The synagogue remained in ruins for about 130 years and was thus known as 'Rabbi Yehuda HeHasid's Ruin,' or as it's commonly known today—'Hurva Synagogue.'
When the disciples of the Gaon of Vilna arrived in the land, they managed to redeem the site and re-establish a magnificent synagogue. However, in 1948, during the War of Independence, the synagogue was destroyed again, this time by Jordanian forces.
About a decade ago, the synagogue was renewed for the second time and restored to its former glory. Yet, its name remains 'Hurva Synagogue.'
