Jerusalem Jewish Heritage - HaKotael HaKatan, (The Small kotel) is not known by most Jews

Jerusalem Jewish Heritage

The Eternal Capital of the Jewish People

HaKotel HaKatan

  In this video Arieh King will visit the of holiest location of the Kotel. The HaKotael HaKatan, (The Small kotel) is not known by most Jews. Its location is deep in the Arab occupied part of the Muslim quarter in the Old City…Jerusalem.  Some others that do know about it are afraid to visit.  It is time for every Jew get to know more about our Eternal Capital

========================================================================

Restoration of the  Ohel Yitzchak Synagogue

In this video Arieh King the  founder of the “Israel Land Fund” explains about the restoration of this synagogue and also how the Israel Land Fund can help facilitate the purchase of property in the Muslim quarter of the Old City – Jerusalem. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

In The Old City Jerusalem With Arieh King 

Arieh King, Founder of the Israel Land Fund will take you into the Muslim quarter of the Old City – Jerusalem. It is essential that every Jew learn about every square inch of their land.

Jewish Italian Heritage Lives On in Jerusalem 
The Conegliano Veneto Synagogue and The U. Nahon Museum of Italian Jewish Art 

It is a small jewel in the heart of Jerusalem. Housed in what used to be The German Catholic Institution Near the Jaffa Gate, visitors will find a treasure of Italian Jewish art, the Conegliano Veneto Synagogue and The U. Nahon Museum of Italian Jewish Art. In this small museum, the oldest surviving Torah curtain, or parochet, which dates to 1572, is on display, among many other wonderful exhibits.

Conegliano is a small village, located between Padua and Venice, Italy. Apparently the first Jewish family came to live in Conegliano in 1397-8, they were invited as moneylenders. By the sixteenth century the Jewish community in the small village thrived and in the seventeenth century a yeshiva (Talmudic School) was established. By 1637 the local Jewish population was required to stay within the confines of the ghetto.

The Jews of Congeliano built their new synagogue in 1701. It was in use until World War I. Jewish soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian army held the last service in the synagogue during Yom Kippur, in 1917. In 1951, the synagogue, which had been abandoned for decades, was taken apart and sent to Israel, where in 1952 it found a new home in the land of Zion. It was re-erected, in the German Compound. The compound was also known as the Schmidt Compound (after Wilhelm Schmidt – who for many years headed the German Catholic Society in Palestine). The Schmidt Compound was built in 1875 as a German Catholic monastery intended to school young women of Syrian-Christian descent. The building also served as a hospice for pilgrims and was at the center of various missionary and philanthropic activities. In the 1940’s the monastery moved to a new location near the Old City. For a time the Schmidt Compound was deserted. Later, public offices and the Ma’ale School were located here.

The Italian community was given permission to hold weekly prayer services in the compound, in the 1940’s. So by the time the dismantled synagogue arrived in Israel in the early 1950’s the former Catholic Compound seemed like a logical location to erect the synagogue for the Italian Jewish community.

The synagogue and museum are located on the second floor of the former Catholic compound. As you enter the building, before you turn right to ascend the stairs, turn left. On the left hand side of the corridor you will find a room with a beautifully decorated, painted ceiling (see photo). The hall, which used to serve as a dining room now provides a place to hold concerts, lectures, etc (see the,Web site for a current listing of special events). The ceiling was apparently painted in exchange for room and board, by a nineteenth century traveler.

The Torah Ark in the very small synagogue is ornately decorated in gold leaf. On the walls there are stucco bas-relief carvings, which bear inscriptions, by an unknown Italian poet. The bas-reliefs in the synagogue of today are replicas of the original inscriptions. The synagogue continues to serve the local Italian community – to this day.

The museum is located just opposite the synagogue and is comprised of four small exhibition rooms, which are jam packed with the riches of Jewish Italian heritage (as well as some items from neighboring countries). The collection features doors of a Torah Ark, a fifteenth century stone tablet (the oldest item on display at the museum), brass and silver Hannukkiot (Hannukkah lamps), chairs used by Torah readers, beautiful textiles, Ketubot (marriage contracts). Torah crowns, spice boxes and many other beautiful items.
 
The Conegliano Veneto Synagogue and The U. Nahon Museum of Italian Jewish Art are located at 27, Hillel Street, Jerusalem.

02-6241-610 TEL
02-6253-480 FAX

Email
Web site:The Conegliano Veneto Synagogue and The U. Nahon Museum of Italian Jewish Art
Visiting Hours:
Sunday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Monday - closed
Tuesday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday 10:00 A< – 5:00 PM
Thursday 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Friday 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Saturday – closed

Entry fees apply.
Groups who wish to attend services at the synagogue should call in advance to coordinate. Note: If you would like to have some coffee or a light meal before or after your visit to the museum, try the nearbyTmol Shilsom. It’s a place with atmosphere that provides wholesome Kosher meals at reasonable prices. As you walk out of the museum’s courtyard turn left and continue walking down Hilel Street until you reach Yoel Moshe Solomon Street, which will be on your left. Across from # 6 take a left turn into a little arched alley. As you enter the inner courtyard turn left and walk all the way to the end until you see a sign and a few steps on the left that will lead you to the café’.