The synagogue in the Knesset building, which was built about a century ago, will be expanded and undergo extensive renovation.
Dozens of worshippers pray in the synagogue every day, it is active throughout the week, and three prayers are held there a day.
Due to the large number of worshippers and the heavy workload, three minyanim are held daily for the Mincha prayer. The synagogue is active and bustling with life, and Torah lessons are also held there.
The current synagogue, which opened about 50 years ago with the inauguration of the new Knesset building, has become too small in recent years to accommodate those who come through its doors. The new synagogue will be expanded from its current size of 65 square meters to 100 square meters.
The meeting hall next to the synagogue, 'Sprinzak Hall', will be connected to the synagogue by partitions, and on special prayer days, when the number of worshippers increases, it will be possible to open the partitions and enlarge the synagogue to a size of 230 square meters.
The renovation is being carried out alongside the upgrading of all the floor's infrastructure, which was also installed about a year ago.
As part of the renovation, the lighting will be replaced with green and economical lighting, a fire alarm system will be installed, including a sprinkler system, and the hallways and entrances on this floor will be renovated.
The renovation is expected to be completed in time for the opening of the Knesset's winter session, immediately after the holidays.
The Ark of the Covenant in the synagogue will also undergo a special renovation: it was moved by a team specializing in the transportation of works of art, and will be preserved and treated by Mishmart Etz, an Italian expert in the preservation of wooden cabinets. The work process will include cleaning the surface, filling cracks and holes, painting and finishing with beeswax.
The Ark of the Covenant in the Knesset was donated to the Knesset through the efforts of Dr. Shlomo Umberto Chono, who worked in the 1950s to redeem and bring to Israel Arks of the Covenant from Italy. It was brought from the town of Sorania in northern Italy.
Dr. Chona served as secretary of the Zionist Organization and chairman of the Organization of Italian Jewish Deportees, and through his initiative and efforts, 42 holy arks were brought to Israel from across Italy (the Ministry of Religious Affairs was a partner in the planning, execution, and financing of the operation to bring the holy arks to Israel. Fearing that the Italians would thwart the project, the arks were dismantled and presented on the shipping certificate as old furniture. The ark was built of carved walnut wood).
The coffin stands about two meters high and its front is carved with Renaissance elements. When it was brought to Israel, it was renovated and restored by antiquities experts from the Restoration Department of the Museum of Italian Jewry.
Knesset Speaker Yuli Yoel Edelstein said: "The expansion of the synagogue is joyful and heart-warming, in the sense of 'enlarge the place of your tent and let the curtains of your dwellings spread.' This is an expression of the fact that over the years the number of people who visit the synagogue has increased. As someone who comes there almost every day, I have seen with my own eyes the urgency and necessity of allowing all worshippers to enter through the gates of the place and not be content with standing on the threshold.".
""Therefore, the expansion was a natural fit. I am glad that we were able to implement it and, like all of us, am looking forward to seeing the facelift of this 'little temple' befitting our House of Representatives.".
Join the Haredim 10 Facebook page >>
Join the X page of Haredim 10 >>
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
