Ohel Yitzchak Synagogue

The Ohel Yitzchak Synagogue, also known as the Shomrei ha-Chomos Synagogue and the Ungarin Shul (Hungarian synagogue), is an Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. It was built as a yeshiva in the 1870s by Kolel Shomrei HaChomos, an organization of Hungarian Jews, but was abandoned after the riots of 1938. Although the building was destroyed after 1948, it was reopened in October 2008 after acquisition by a Religious Zionist group and subsequent refurbishment.

History

Establishment

In 1862 students of the Chassam Sofer, Rabbi Moses Sofer, arrived in Jerusalem from Hungary and established a community called Shomrei HaChomos, meaning Guardians of the Walls. A property was acquired in 1875 and a yeshiva was built that was situated approximately 100 m (330 ft) from the Chain Gate on al-Wad Street, in today's Muslim Quarter. The courtyard was purchased from the Muslim Khaladi family. The building was financed by Rabbi Yitzchok Ratsdorfer, a diamond merchant who belonged to the Hasidic group Belz, .

In 1892, the community established a neighborhood outside the Old City walls called Batei Ungarin, part of the neighborhood now known as Meah Shearim. In 1904, the yeshiva in the Old City was expanded and a second story was added. While construction was taking place, the Ottoman authorities warned that the extension would not be allowed.