Supervising engineer on behalf of the municipality of Rashtrapati: Dodi Katz - Civil and Marine Engineering Ltd.
The Great Synagogue in Rishon LeZion was built in 1885-1889, and was an important focal point in the life of the colony.
The synagogue stands on the top of a hill, at the end of Rothschild Street and the founders' square at the intersection with Ahad Ha'am Street, and it stands out from afar.
The construction of the synagogue began in 1885, and was met with opposition from the Ottoman government, and financial hardship.
To overcome the opposition of the government, the settlers built the synagogue under the guise of a warehouse for agricultural equipment.
The building was designed by Baruch Papiermeister, who was among the biggest opponents of the baron's officials.
The building of a house was completed thanks to a donation from the baron
Edmund James de Rothschild.
For many years the synagogue was one of the magnificent buildings in the small settlement and a social center for its settlers.
In 2013, under the auspices of the municipality, it was decided to renovate and restore the synagogue, including all the stained glass windows.
The synagogue has two floors: the first has room for 150 worshippers, and the second has the women's auxiliary.
The windows on both sides of the ark have stained glass
of the 12 tribes of Israel, above it 2 stained glass windows in the shape of the Tablets of the Covenant and on them the 6 days of creation.
On the sides of the synagogue there are stained glass windows dedicated to Israeli holidays, including Independence Day.
Rachel's tomb, the binding of Yitzchak, the world stands on 3 things:
On Torah, on work and giving kindnesses.
Another stained glass window is above the front door.
The number of doors and windows in the front is 12, as the number of the tribes of Israel.
The stained glass windows were produced in the 1950s.
When I was called to examine the situation for the purpose of a quote for the restoration and restoration of the stained glass, I got the impression that the situation was reasonable.
But, when we dismantled the stained glass on the second floor and above,
I was appalled!
Lucky they were trapped between 2 transparent glasses, otherwise they would have come down, completely crumbled.
And here the work of reconstruction was a work of thought
And with a lot of patience.
Photograph and document, copy the original before dismantling.
Disassemble all the pieces of glass and clean, replace broken glass, and rebuild the stained glass windows.
For me, it was a sacred work and a lot of reverence.
The work included rebuilding frames
From a real Belgian metal profile and the matching of the stained glass
For the new dimensions.
During the installation, which lasted two days,
I was exposed to the work of exposing murals.
It turns out that there was information, there are apparently murals,
which over the years were whitewashed and disappeared from view.
With gentleness and infinite tolerance, the wall paintings began to be revealed.
Since there was no budget for reconstruction, it was decided to reveal sections,
photograph and document, and repaint.
to see the light in the eyes of the restorers, the excitement of discovery,
And also the disappointment that only needs to be documented and hidden again.
We are used to it, they said, but every time it hurts...
Holy work, thoughtful work, a lot of awe and appreciation for work from the past that was created for the sake of holiness.
This is our history and our existence as a nation thanks to it!
First photo: Founders' Square with the synagogue in the center,
In a postcard published by the Eliyahu brothers from the 1920s.
Below, before and after the restoration and an interior view of the synagogue.
A detail from the mural that was revealed...
And of course the stained glass windows in a synagogue: from the entrance
and up above the Holy Ark and another floor,
As you can see in the photo of the face.
A video can be found at the end of the gallery.