The Great Synagogue – Renovating the Great Synagogue Interior

Background

Having stood at the heart of Tel Aviv-Yafo for over 95 years, the Great Synagogue remains one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Designed by architect Yehuda Magidovitch and completed in 1926, it was envisioned by the city’s founders as a central gathering place for the city`s Jewish community.

Since its first opening as one of Tel Aviv’s most iconic institutions, the Great Synagogue has served as a vibrant spiritual and cultural center for diverse Jewish worshippers. It welcomes people across the religious and identity spectrum that is so unique to Tel Aviv and is a staple of the city’s spirit of inclusive openness.

The Tel Aviv Foundation has received a generous donation to restore and renovate the synagogue’s exterior façade. Work is set to begin in summer 2024 and conclude around 2027. With past prestige returning to outward-facing facets, interior dignity warrants a similar revival. The synagogue’s internal experience should match its external prominence via holistic refurbishment.

The Project

Constructed nearly a century ago, the Great Synagogue has long served as an intergenerational epicenter carrying and uniting past, present, and future. Just as the original builders envisioned an enduring spiritual home for Jewish residents through the times, the proposed renovated interior will revive and honor that inclusive, forward-looking community focus within refurbished 1920s grandeur.

The Impact

The interior renovation of the Great Synagogue will breathe new life into this historic landmark. By blending restored 1920s grandeur with modern amenities, the project will create a more welcoming space for worship, reflection, and community gatherings. This revitalization will preserve Tel Aviv’s architectural heritage while reinvigorating the synagogue’s role as a central hub for Jewish life.