The Four Sephardic Synagogues
The Four Sephardic Synagogues
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.0
37 reviews
Excellent
18
Very good
11
Average
7
Poor
0
Terrible
1
AnnaCuccuru
Ferrara, Italy370 contributions
Jul 2019
Amazing!
Jewish Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem just a one-minute walk south of Hurva Square, nice, interesting very original place to visit for tourists, journalists and researchers if they will visit the Jerusalem. I have been there in 2006, I really advise to go there!
Jewish Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem just a one-minute walk south of Hurva Square, nice, interesting very original place to visit for tourists, journalists and researchers if they will visit the Jerusalem. I have been there in 2006, I really advise to go there!
Written June 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sandyB56
Arvada, CO255 contributions
Nov 2012 • Couples
Although the current structure has been completely restored, the presence of the Sephardic community dates back to the late 13th century during the time of Rabbi Moshe Ben-Nakhman (Nachmanides or Ramban). In the centuries that followed, the community grew and additional synagogues were built according to the Ottoman Empire’s requirement that “no infidel prayer house could stand higher than a neighboring Moslem holy place.” The Jews circumvented that stipulation by having the ground floor below street level.
During Israel’s War of Independence, the Jews of the Old City’s Jewish Quarter sought refuge in these synagogues. When the Old City fell into the hands of the Jordanian Legion, the synagogues were destroyed. Thereafter, the Jordanians used this area for livestock stalls. In the aftermath of the Six Day War (1967), Jewish organizations around the world and the Israeli government worked together to restore the Sephardic Synagogues to their former status. Pictures of the synagogue before and after the war are displayed.
Due to the support of Worldwide Jewry, the Sephardic Jewish traditions will continue to be passed from generation to generation in Jerusalem. This site is not far from the Kotel. If you're interested in history, synagogues and/or Sephardic Judaism, it is a must see.
During Israel’s War of Independence, the Jews of the Old City’s Jewish Quarter sought refuge in these synagogues. When the Old City fell into the hands of the Jordanian Legion, the synagogues were destroyed. Thereafter, the Jordanians used this area for livestock stalls. In the aftermath of the Six Day War (1967), Jewish organizations around the world and the Israeli government worked together to restore the Sephardic Synagogues to their former status. Pictures of the synagogue before and after the war are displayed.
Due to the support of Worldwide Jewry, the Sephardic Jewish traditions will continue to be passed from generation to generation in Jerusalem. This site is not far from the Kotel. If you're interested in history, synagogues and/or Sephardic Judaism, it is a must see.
Written May 1, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AriEila
London, UK96 contributions
Oct 2019
I hate to rate this special site lower; the history here, and the lack of tourist traffic, made it a beautifully peaceful, special place on the edge of the Jewish quarter. There was a sweet, elderly Sephardic man selling tickets and giving out information, and you could tell he was so proud of the history here. Sadly, the last (largest) of the four synagogues was off limits to us (two Jewish women) because there seemed to be an impromptu yeshiva session--complete with aggressively loud argument over the Mishnah--going on inside it, so there had been a massive mechitza hung up, completely obscuring everything except the right-hand and far walls. You couldn't see the seats, the bimah, the sanctuary, etc. Just a white wall of fabric.
Written November 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert B
Lancaster, PA48 contributions
Aug 2019
This is a must see in the Old City! The synagogues are hundred of years old and were demolished between 1948 and 1967 when the Jordanians controlled the city. They have since been restored when the Old City again came into Israeli hands.
Written September 27, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Giora_I_L
Haifa, Israel6,250 contributions
Dec 2018 • Friends
I was thinking I have seen all old city Jewish quarter attractions. As part of Hanukkah lamps "Hanukkiot" tour in Jerusalem we entered this site. It was built by first Jews settled in Jerusalem in the 16th century. There are four connected synagogues: the largest Yochanan ben Zakai Synagogue, Istanbuli Synagogue built by Jews from Turkey, Eliahu Ha'navi Synagogue, and Emtsai Synagogue. Interesting and unusual is the fact that there are twin Torah arks in Yochanan ben Zakai Synagogue. (One reason might be to comply with the Ottoman's demand to place the Quran in the synagogue). There is a small exhibition of the restoration that took place after the six days war (the Jordanian ruined the place) and several items that were saved from this place.
Written December 6, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
podrozniczka60
New Jersey16,442 contributions
Jan 2017 • Couples
The synagogues are in their full glory now after resurrecting in 1967. It was interesting to visit them and to see the difference in layout in comparison to Ashkenazi synagogues - the central stage surrounded by seats. All four of them have interesting history and our guide was elaborating on that to us.
Written February 17, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NYEMUG1
New York City, NY38 contributions
Feb 2014 • Couples
A quite uncrowded 20-30 minute stop. Restored to pre-1948 splendor with furniture and artifacts collected from similar synagogues in Sephardic countries. The 1967 photos of the destroyed complex taken is a testimony to what would happen if the Palestinians were given control of the Old City. A small 20 shekel fee (about $3.50) is requested. There is also an exhibit room of a collection of religious artifacts collected from Sephardic countries.
Written April 9, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ankur
New Milford, CT99 contributions
Apr 2023
It is unfortunate that I have to give a 1 star review to a Synagogue. I was in the old city with elderly parents. We are hindu, but have respects for all faiths, and believe all places of worship. When I came to this entrence, The person at the gate looked at us, seeing at we are of indian decent, (and probably no jewish) as for an extrence fee of 45 Israel for me and 35 Israel for each of my parents. It seemed like this price was made up based on how we looked. I have checked online and it seems the price is only 10 ILS. Being charged extra for for color my skin saddens me greatly, espicially at a religous place.
All the other other quarters, (the Armenian, Chirstian, Islam) we were not judged by our looks and All three other quarters welcomed us with open arms. The Armenian Quater one person (at the Church of Mark I believe) become a free tour guide and spent over 30 minutes telling us about their church and their religion.
It saddens me that this is they type of culture which being represented by the jewish people at the Synagogue.
All the other other quarters, (the Armenian, Chirstian, Islam) we were not judged by our looks and All three other quarters welcomed us with open arms. The Armenian Quater one person (at the Church of Mark I believe) become a free tour guide and spent over 30 minutes telling us about their church and their religion.
It saddens me that this is they type of culture which being represented by the jewish people at the Synagogue.
Written April 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
IlyaNJ
Marlboro, NJ991 contributions
Aug 2022
In the heart of the Old City, these four adjoining synagogues are an amalgamation of different styles with a curious history. You probably need a bit of guidance to properly appreciate it, but even just visually it is unusual.
Written September 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Howard F
Uppsala, Sweden259 contributions
May 2019 • Friends
We found the four Sephardic synagogues by accident, and were pleased that we did.
The four are so close together that as you leave one, the same door takes you directly into the next. Some interesting artifacts and photos on display, including photos of the destruction of them by the Jordanian Legion in 1948.
The four are so close together that as you leave one, the same door takes you directly into the next. Some interesting artifacts and photos on display, including photos of the destruction of them by the Jordanian Legion in 1948.
Written May 6, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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