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This complex located below street level just down the street from the HURVA synagogue, may trace it's beginnings to MAMELUKE or even CRUSADER times, spanning centuries into the OTTOMAN period. During renovation work carried out in 1845, a stone inscription was found revealing these structures to be 460 years old! These synagogues are a collection of buildings and structures which were added to and expanded over time as the Sephardic population of the Old City grew. The largest and most impressive of these is THE YOHANON BEN ZAKKAI synagogue. This was named for the great Tanna, or sage, who escaped Jerusalem during the Roman siege and established the Sanhedrin in Yavneh, ensuring Jewish continuity in spite of the loss of Jerusalem and her Beit HaMikdash, or Holy Temple, in the year 70. Tradition has it that this synagogue was built over the site he used to teach in the Holy City. The next synagogue is called the ELIYAHU HANAVI, or Elijah the Prophet synagogue. Tradition has it that one day that synagogue lacked the tenth man to make their minyan, or prayer quorum. At last, from the distance an old man approached and was invited in. After services he got up from his chair and walked into a side room, presumably planning to exit. This room has no exit! The worshippers hurried after him to help him on his way and invite him into their homes. When they entered the room, they found he had disappeared! Realizing they had been visited by Elijah the prophet, they named the synagogue after him, The next synagogue is THE ISTANBULI synagogue. This synagogue, a large domed hall resting on four central pillars, is built in a typical Ottoman period architechural style. The synagogue is named for the capital of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul. The congregants themselves were Sephardim from Turkey, mostly Istanbul. The fourth synagogue is named simply THE CENTRAL SYNAGOGUE. In time, a small, central courtyard was covered over and converted into a permanent synagogue, bringing the total to Four Sephardic Synagogues. These synagogues functioned fully right up until the fall of the Jewish quarter in 1948. This complex was heavily damaged and vandalized during the Jordanian occupation. Two of the halls were even used as donkey stables, the furniture was sold and the Holy arks were desecrated. These synagogues were restored after the six day war with careful attention to preserving the original synagogue's look, feel and glory.

The City of David
Area G
Warren's Shaft
Gihon Spring
Hezekiah's Tunnel

THE CITY BEYOND THE WALLS

Mishkenot Shaananim
Machaneh Yisrael
Nahalat Shiva
Meah Shearim
Yemin Moshe

JERUSALEM HIGHLIGHTS

Museums
Yad Vashem
Israel Museum
Bible Lands Museum
Tower of David

Government
The Knesset
The Supreme Court
City Hall

Historical Sites
The Mount of Olives
The City of David