Great Synagogue of Tel Aviv

The Great Synagogue of Tel Aviv stands at 110 Allenby Street in the Lev HaIr area of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. Construction began in 1926, in the early years of the Mandate and the growing Jewish city, and the building was only finished in 1970, a gap of more than four decades caused by funding shortages, political events and changes in plans. It was intended as the main synagogue of the young city and for many years it was the largest in Tel Aviv. The building is an eclectic mixture of styles reflecting the long timeline: a monumental stone facade with arches and a central dome, a large prayer hall with a high ceiling and a women's gallery, and interior decoration such as the ark, stained glass and chandeliers that were added over the decades. The synagogue was originally designed in the 1920s and 1930s and finished in a more modern idiom in the 1960s, so visitors can see different building periods in one structure. Its location on Allenby Street, one of the central commercial streets of the city, put it at the heart of Tel Aviv's early commercial and civic life. The synagogue is a place of active worship, with daily and Sabbath services and community events, so it does not operate as a museum and has no formal exhibition. Visitors are welcome to view the exterior and, outside services and with permission, may see the interior; modest dress is required, and men should cover their heads. The building has been maintained and repaired by the community, and its condition is good, although the surrounding streets have changed greatly. It sits near Carmel Market and the Bauhaus streets, so it adds a religious and architectural stop to a central walk.