Ohr ha-Chaim Synagogue

Ohr ha-Chaim Synagogue
Hebrew: בית הכנסת אור החיים
Interior of the synagogue, in 2007
Religion
Affiliation	Judaism
Rite	Kabbalistic Nusach Ashkenaz
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Yeshiva (1742–1948) Synagogue (1742–1948) Profane use (1948–1967) Synagogue (since 1867)
Status	Active
Location
Location	Ohr ha-Chaim Street (Ezra Street), Jewish Quarter, Old City, Jerusalem
Country	Israel
Architecture
Founder	Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar
Date established	1742 (as a congregation)

The Ohr ha-Chaim Synagogue (Hebrew: בית הכנסת אור החיים), is a Kabbalistic Jewish congregation and synagogue, located on Ohr ha-Chaim Street, in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, Israel. The synagogue was named in honour of Chaim ibn Attar.

History

Arriving in Jerusalem from Morocco in 1742, Rabbi Attar established a study hall in this building together with a women's section. In a room at the back of the men's section is where, according to tradition, Rabbi Attar would study with Eliyahu Ha-Navi. A number of years ago, a mikveh was uncovered near the stairs which lead to the women's section, confirming a long-standing tradition of its existence.

The synagogue is located on the top floor of a building which also houses the Ari Synagogue and Old Yishuv Court Museum. It is named after Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar's magnum opus, the Ohr ha-Chaim, a popular commentary on the Pentateuch.

Though the synagogue was founded by a kabbalist of Sephardic descent, the synagogue eventually came to serve the Ashkenazi community, headed by Rabbi Shlomo Rosenthal. When the Jewish Quarter fell to the Arab Legion in 1948, during the Arab-Israeli War, the synagogue was closed. It was reopened and refurbished after Israel captured the Old City in 1967.

See also

• History of the Jews in Israel
• List of synagogues in Israel
• Synagogues of Jerusalem

External links

Media related to Yeshivat Knesset Yisrael (founded by Rabbi Chaim Ben Atar) at Wikimedia Commons

• "Ohr HaChaim Synagogue: Jewish Quarter Jerusalem". MyRova. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007.