Large synagog of Belz

The Belz Beis HaMedrash HaGadol , ( בעלזאביתהמדרשהגדול ), (Large Synagog of Belz), is the largest synagog of Jerusalem. It is a building which cost several million Dollar S, built by the Jews Hassidiques de Belz, with the philanthropic assistance their followers and admirors all over the world.

Hassidim de Belz

In many cities or villages (Shtetl) of Poland and Ukraine, were created during the XVIIIe and XIXe century, under the impulse of a Rabbin or spiritual leader, ultra-orthodoxe communities of Juifs , Applying the texts religious to the letter and very recognizable by their habits and their way of dressing itself, these hassidic communities for the majority were destroyed during the Second world war at the time of the Shoah.

With Belz in Ukraine, the rabbi Shalom Rokea' H, under the name of Rabbi Shalom is first Belzer Rebbe (Rabbi of Belz) of 1817 with 1855 of the hassidic community of Belz. It makes build in Belz a imposing Synagog resembling a fortress, with Mur S of 1 meter of thickness, a crenelated Toit and Rempart S decorated with gilded balls . Dedicated in 1843, it can accommodate up to 5000 faithful and has a remarkable Acoustique.

When the Nazis invade fine Belz 1939, they try to destroy the synagog in the setting fire to and the dynamiting, but the synagog only is little damaged. They force the Jews of Belz then to destroy it themselves hones by stone.

The survivors of the hassidic community of Belz, are established after the war mainly in Israel and with the the United States.

The Large Synagog of Beltz of Jerusalem

To the beginning of the year 1980, the Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach (II) of the dynasty of Hassidim de Belz launches the plans for the construction of an immense synagog in the district of Kiryat Belz of Jerusalem. The building located in undulating suburbs, must have four entries accessible from each of the four streets which border it and being an increased counterpart of the building built by the first Rabbi de Belz, Shalom Rokeach in the town of Belz. It must include/understand an imposing principal sanctuary, smaller study halls, rooms for the Mariage S and the Bar Mitsva, of the Bibliothèque S and the common parts. In the current of the Years 1980 and 1990, many collections take place to collect the required funds.

As the original synagog of Belz which was built in 15 years, the news Beis Hamedrash HaGadol which now dominates its height all the northern part of Jerusalem, also took 15 years to be built. Dedicated in 2000, its sanctuary principal accommodates 6000 faithful. The Holy Arche in Bois carved has a 12 meters height and weighs 18 tons. Its dimension enables him to preserve more than 100 rollers of the Torah. The nine candlesticks, on 3,5 meters broad 6 height meters are made up each one of more than 200.000 parts of Cristal of Bohemia. By contrast with the majestic synagog, simple the Chaise from of wood with its Lutrin, used by the Rabbi Aharon off Belz when it arrived to Israel in 1944 is protected in a window out of glass close to the Arch. The complex has many stages of rooms. The principal sanctuary is used only for the Chabbat and feastdays, while during the Semaine, the offices take place in smaller rooms located in lower part of the big room. In these small synagogs called shtieblach , is held every 10 minutes, the offices of Shacharit (of the morning), of Mincha (of the afternoon) and of Arvit (of the evening). In an adjacent larger room, the hassidic celebrations of the Tish take place (gathering around the rabbi).

On the lower floors are the dormitories used by Hassidim de Belz arriving to Israel coming from the United States and other countries for the festivals of Roch Hachana, Yom Kippour and Souccot. Other big rooms are used for the meals as chabbat, and the celebration of the ceremonies of marriage and bar-mitsva.

See too

orthodoxe Hassidisme
Judaism

External bonds

in : Video presentation of Belz Beit Medrash
in : The company Clear Hook which conceived and makes manufacture the 9 Bohemian crystal candlesticks

Gallery

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