Ramban Synagogue

Ramban Synagogue
Hebrew: בית כנסת הרמב"ן‎
The synagogue interior, in 2006
Religion
AffiliationOrthodox Judaism
RiteNusach Ashkenaz
Ecclesiastical or organisational status
  • Synagogue (c. 1400–1474)
  • Synagogue (1475–16th century)
  • Profane use (16th century–1948)
  • Synagogue (since 1967)
LeadershipRabbi Avigdor Nebenzahl
Year consecratedc. 1400
StatusActive
Location
LocationJewish Quarter Road (Ha-Yehudim Street), Jewish Quarter, Old City, Jerusalem
CountryIsrael
Ramban Synagogue is located in Jerusalem
Ramban Synagogue
Location of the synagogue in Old Jerusalem
Geographic coordinates31°46′30.0″N 35°13′52.5″E / 31.775000°N 35.231250°E / 31.775000; 35.231250
Architecture
FounderRabbi Moshe ben Nachman
Date established1267 (as a congregation)
Completed
  • c. 1400;
  • 1475 (rebuilt);
  • 1967 (rebuilt)
Destroyed1474, 1948 and c. 1967
[1][2][3]

The Ramban Synagogue (Hebrew: בית כנסת הרמב"ן‎) is an Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, Israel.

The synagogue building dates from c. 1400 and, after the Karaite Synagogue, it is the second oldest active synagogue in Jerusalem.[1][2] Tradition holds that as an institution, it was founded by the scholar and Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman, also known as Nachmanides or Ramban, in 1267, but at a more southerly location on Mount Zion,[4] to help rebuild the local Jewish community, that expanded because of the synagogue's presence.[5][6]

The synagogue was moved to its current location in c. 1400, where it was destroyed in 1474, rebuilt in 1475, and continued functioning until being closed by the Muslim authorities in the late 16th century. The building was used for industrial and commercial purposes until its destruction in the 1948 Jordanian siege of the Jewish Quarter. After the Six-Day War in 1967, it was rebuilt over the old ruins and reconsecrated as a synagogue.

  1. ^ a b Roth, Norman (2014). "Synagogues". In Roth, Norman (ed.). Medieval Jewish Civilization: An Encyclopedia. Routledge. p. 622. ISBN 978-1-136-77155-2. Retrieved July 27, 2022 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ a b Basola, Mošeh (2003). David, Avraham (ed.). A Sion e a Gerusalemme: viaggio in Terra Santa (1521-1523) (in Italian). Translated by Alessandra Veronese. Florence: La Giuntina. p. 72, n. 58. ISBN 8880571710. Retrieved July 29, 2022 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "Staff - Yeshivat HaKotel". Hakotel.org.il. n.d. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  4. ^ Domnitch, Larry (2000). The Jewish Holidays: A Journey Through History. Jason Aronson. pp. 131–132. ISBN 0765761092. Retrieved July 29, 2022 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "Ramban Synagogue – Oldest in-use synagogue in Jerusalem". Attractions-in-israel.com. October 18, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  6. ^ Domnitch, Larry (June 1, 2005). "How Nachmanides Rebuilt Jerusalem". Aish.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2016.