Synagogues of Jerusalem

SYNAGOGUES OF JERUSALEM
9th in the "Views of Jerusalem" Bullion Series

Jerusalem, the holiest city in Judaism, has scores of Synagogues belonging to the different streams of Judaism. The "Synagogues of Jerusalem" Numismatic Bullion features four of Jerusalem's unique Synagogues out of the many in the city – the Great Synagogue, Hurva, Yeshurun and Belz Synagogues.

The Great Synagogue of Jerusalem, located in the center of the city, serves as a special spiritual and religious center, attracting hundreds of tourists and visitors from Israel and all around the globe. With its mixture of Jewish cultures from all over the Diaspora, Ashkenazi and Sefardic, the Great Synagogue unites the Jewish people. Its building is among the most splendid of edifices glorifying the fine essence of Judaism.

The Hurva Synagogue is situated in the heart of the Jewish Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem. Its roots are well entrenched in the turbulent Jewish history of the city. After large-scale renovation and restoration, the new Hurva Synagogue building incorporates remnants of the old synagogue. Crowning the structure is a large dome bearing the names of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, which has a balcony providing a magnificent view of the Old City.

The Yeshurun Synagogue is a central Synagogue in Jerusalem and considered the city's first modern orthodox Synagogue. Its holy ark contains numerous Torah scrolls, among them, scrolls brought from Munich, after the Second World War.

The Belz Synagogue, belonging to the Belz Hasidim and located in north Jerusalem, is one of the largest and most impressive of the Jerusalem synagogues with six floors, reaching a height of about 20 meters. The building structure contains stones brought from the ruins of the Bet Hamidrash (study hall) of the Belz Hasidism in Galicia, destroyed during the Holocaust.

Each of the Synagogues featured on this bullion has immense historical and spiritual importance in Jewish tradition. Together, they are part of a unique Jewish mosaic, eternalizing our Jewish heritage and the unity of the Jewish people.

Design: Face – Aharon Shevo, Common Reverse of the Series – Yaacov Enyedi

Minting: The Holy Land Mint

Description

Face: Facade view of four famous Synagogues of Jerusalem - the Great Synagogue, Hurva Synagogue, Yeshurun Synagogue and Belz Synagogue. Beneath each is its name in Hebrew and English

Common Reverse: Lion of Jerusalem and prominent buildings of Jerusalem within the outline of a coat of arms, the Holy Land Mint trademark.