Four Sephardic Synagogues

Four Sephardic Synagogues
The synagogue complex in 2008
Religion
AffiliationJudaism
Ecclesiastical or organisational statusSynagogues
StatusActive
Location
LocationOld City of Jerusalem
CountryIsrael
Four Sephardic Synagogues is located in Jerusalem
Four Sephardic Synagogues
Location of the complex in the Old City of Jerusalem
Geographic coordinates31°46′28″N 35°13′54″E / 31.77444°N 35.23167°E / 31.77444; 35.23167
Architecture
CompletedFrom 16th to 18th centuries
MaterialsJerusalem stone

The Four Sephardic Synagogues are a complex of four adjoining synagogues located in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem.

The four synagogues include:

  • the Eliahu Ha'navi Synagogue (established c. 1586),
  • the Yochanan ben Zakai Synagogue (whose current building dates to the beginning of the 17th century),
  • the Istanbuli Synagogue (established c. 1764), and
  • the Emtsai Synagogue ("Middle Synagogue," also known as the Kahal Tzion Synagogue) formed from a courtyard amidst the synagogues that was roofed in the mid-18th century.[citation needed]

The synagogues were built to accommodate the religious needs of Jerusalem's Sephardic community, with each congregation practicing a different rite, and most remain in active use.

The four synagogues; the left hand map is a 1936-47 Survey of Palestine map (only three of the synagogues are highlighted)