Tbilisi Great Synagogue (Beit Rachel)

The Tbilisi Great Synagogue, also known as Beit Rachel, stands on Leselidze Street, also called Kote Abkhazi Street, in Old Tbilisi, Georgia. It serves the Georgian Jewish community, which has a documented presence in the country of more than 2,000 years. The synagogue was built in the early 20th century during the Russian Imperial period, when the Jewish population of Tbilisi was substantial. The building is a brick structure with arched windows and a decorative facade, in a style that blends Eastern European and local influences. The interior includes a main prayer hall with an ark, a women's gallery and a ceiling decorated with traditional patterns. During the Soviet era religious life was restricted, and the synagogue continued to operate in limited form, with many Jewish families emigrating to Israel in the 1970s and again after 1991. The synagogue is an active place of worship, with services on Friday evening and Saturday, and visitors may enter at other times with permission. It sits close to the Sioni Cathedral and the Armenian church of Norashen, so a short walk shows how different faiths shared Old Tbilisi. The district around the synagogue also holds a Georgian-Jewish heritage that appears in local food, music and family names. Visitors should dress modestly, men may be asked to cover their heads, and photography may be limited, particularly on the Sabbath. Security at the entrance is common, and visitors may be asked to show identification. The synagogue is free to visit, and donations are welcome.