Ashdod Travelers guide

Ashdod | Sightseeing 116 Moroccan, but the synagogue serves a mixed community - from Moroccans and French to Georgians and native Israelis. Notice the Eastern elements in the synagogue's design. Architect Haim Saban, a resident of the city, combined arches, curves and additional Eastern elements in the building, such as domes above the entrance lobby and at the back of the building. Around the entrance lobby there are marble covered columns. The prayer hall itself is devoid of columns, its walls are not parallel and are built at an angle to enable a line of sight with the cantor from anywhere in the hall. The windows are double glazed with an internal stained-glass window, and on the colorful semi-transparent divider of the women's section there are verses of praise for women from the Book of Proverbs. In the circular corridor behind the hall, a sink was installed for the Kohanim to wash their hands for the blessing. The idea was taken from the synagogue in Livorno, Italy, and shortens the waiting period for the Kohanim until they return from the hand washing ceremony. More about: Commemorating Combat Soldiers In 1997, right after the helicopter disaster, Rabbi Moshe Lahiani, the Chabad Rabbi from Marseilles, France, arrived in Israel. The Rabbi, who was deeply shocked by the disaster, contacted the association of synagogue, which was then in the planning stages, and suggested naming the synagogue "She'ar Yashuv" after the settlement in which one of the helicopters crashed. At the ground-breaking ceremony that was held that year, the commander of the helicopter fleet was present, and the community members joined in the efforts to commemorate the fallen. In the entry hall of the synagogue, which was inaugurated in 2002, there is a memorial section with a prominent and touching wall painting depicting black figures of combat soldiers. Next to it are plates with the names of the 73 soldiers who perished in the disaster. Sunday-Thursday 08:00-16:00' Friday 08:00-13:00 Free of charge 4 Montefiore Street To arrange a visit: David Zohar- Tel: 057-7627671; David Avraham- Tel: 050-8676636 Not accessible to the handicapped Visit by appointment only The She'ar Yashuv Synagogue TIP Every Simchat Torah, there are Hakafot Shniyot held in the courtyard opposite the synagogue in a festive atmosphere enjoyed by everyone - not only the religious.