Beit Yisrael
Encyclopedia
Beit Yisrael is a predominantly Haredi
neighborhood in central Jerusalem, Israel
. It is located just north of Mea Shearim
.
The name Beit Yisrael is taken from the verse in Ezekiel
, in which Ezekiel
prophesies to the hills and mountains of Israel, "I shall make numerous on you the people, the entire House of Israel; the cities will be reinhabited and the ruins will be rebuilt." According to tradition, the neighborhood is built on the location on which the sacrificial remnants of the Second Temple
were disposed.
; it was therefore originally called "Mea Shearim HaHadasha" . A number of prominent community activists of the Old Yishuv
, looking for a solution to the skyrocketing costs of living quarters in Mea Shearim, came up with the idea to purchase the adjacent plot of land, a dirty and infested area nicknamed "the pool" because of its severe drainage problems. Rabbi Aryeh Leib Dayan purchased the plot for a cheap price, after which they drained the water and began to build. The neighborhood book of regulations poetically describes some of the difficulties of the time:
Beit Yisrael originally consisted of one central street by the same name, which contained the main synagogue
, with small alleyways branching off on which houses were built. Another main street, which connected the neighborhood to Mea Shearim, was built later and named for Rabbi Dayan. Two-story houses lined the roads, with spacious courtyards behind them and a shared well for every two houses. The inhabitants were originally poor people who could not afford housing in other neighborhoods, though many olim from across the globe settled there as well. By the year 1900, there were already sixty houses and two synagogues. Throughout the years of Mandate Palestine
, the neighborhood continued to grow, eventually expanding to the north.
During the Israeli War of Independence, from 1947-1949, Beit Yisrael was on the front lines, and from 1949 until 1967, it was situated right near the Armistice Line and the border with Jordan.
On March 2, 2002, eleven people were killed and over 50 were injured in a suicide bombing outside a yeshiva
in the neighborhood, where people had gathered for a bar mitzvah celebration.
, Beit Yaakov , was established in 1887 using funds donated by a donor who wished to remain anonymous
. The marble
plaque, which can still be seen on the wall, relates some of the background of the donation:
There has been much speculation as to the identity of this anonymous donor. A local legend relates that a wealthy resident often lent money to local businessmen. Once, after forgetting that one of his debtors had already repaid his loan, he asked for payment. The businessman insisted that he had already paid, so they went to a local rabbi
. According to Jewish monetary law, in such a scenario the debtor must swear that he repaid the loan to the creditor. The debtor, not wanting to swear, paid a second time. When the creditor discovered his error, he immediately went back to the debtor and refunded his money, and, in an attempt to rectify his actions, donated the same amount to the construction fund. Not wanting to publicize the story, he asked to remain anonymous.
The Beit Yaakov synagogue also has a number of smaller rooms, known as shteiblach
, in which minyanim can be found at almost any hour. According to the synagogue administration, more people pray there daily than in any other synagogue in Jerusalem, including the famed Zikhron Moshe
shteiblach. The entire complex was refurbished and modernized in the last few years.
To the west of the synagogue building is the Machane Yisrael yeshiva
for baalei teshuva (returnees to religious observance).
Many other synagogues can be found in Beit Yisrael, owing to the many Jews of various ethnic backgrounds who preferred to pray according to their local custom, including Jews from Dagestan
, Kurdistan, Afghanistan
, and others. There are also many synagogues of various Hasidic sects, including Pinsk-Karlin, Lelov, Lubavitch, and Zvhil.
Also located in Beit Yisrael is the Mir Yeshiva
, the largest yeshiva
in the world, boasting over 5000 students.
Haredi Judaism
Haredi or Charedi/Chareidi Judaism is the most conservative form of Orthodox Judaism, often referred to as ultra-Orthodox. A follower of Haredi Judaism is called a Haredi ....
neighborhood in central Jerusalem, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. It is located just north of Mea Shearim
Mea Shearim
Mea Shearim is one of the oldest Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem, Israel. It is populated mainly by Haredi Jews and was built by the original settlers of the Yishuv haYashan.-Name:...
.
The name Beit Yisrael is taken from the verse in Ezekiel
Book of Ezekiel
The Book of Ezekiel is the third of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, following the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah and preceding the Book of the Twelve....
, in which Ezekiel
Ezekiel
Ezekiel , "God will strengthen" , is the central protagonist of the Book of Ezekiel in the Hebrew Bible. In Judaism, Christianity and Islam, Ezekiel is acknowledged as a Hebrew prophet...
prophesies to the hills and mountains of Israel, "I shall make numerous on you the people, the entire House of Israel; the cities will be reinhabited and the ruins will be rebuilt." According to tradition, the neighborhood is built on the location on which the sacrificial remnants of the Second Temple
Second Temple
The Jewish Second Temple was an important shrine which stood on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem between 516 BCE and 70 CE. It replaced the First Temple which was destroyed in 586 BCE, when the Jewish nation was exiled to Babylon...
were disposed.
History
Beit Yisrael was originally built in the 1880s as an extension of the adjacent neighborhood of Mea ShearimMea Shearim
Mea Shearim is one of the oldest Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem, Israel. It is populated mainly by Haredi Jews and was built by the original settlers of the Yishuv haYashan.-Name:...
; it was therefore originally called "Mea Shearim HaHadasha" . A number of prominent community activists of the Old Yishuv
Old Yishuv
The Old Yishuv refers to the Jewish community that lived in the Land of Israel from the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE to the First Aliyah in 1881-82, prior to the onset of Zionist immigration....
, looking for a solution to the skyrocketing costs of living quarters in Mea Shearim, came up with the idea to purchase the adjacent plot of land, a dirty and infested area nicknamed "the pool" because of its severe drainage problems. Rabbi Aryeh Leib Dayan purchased the plot for a cheap price, after which they drained the water and began to build. The neighborhood book of regulations poetically describes some of the difficulties of the time:
Beit Yisrael originally consisted of one central street by the same name, which contained the main synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
, with small alleyways branching off on which houses were built. Another main street, which connected the neighborhood to Mea Shearim, was built later and named for Rabbi Dayan. Two-story houses lined the roads, with spacious courtyards behind them and a shared well for every two houses. The inhabitants were originally poor people who could not afford housing in other neighborhoods, though many olim from across the globe settled there as well. By the year 1900, there were already sixty houses and two synagogues. Throughout the years of Mandate Palestine
Mandate Palestine
Mandate Palestine existed while the British Mandate for Palestine, which formally began in September 1923 and terminated in May 1948, was in effect...
, the neighborhood continued to grow, eventually expanding to the north.
During the Israeli War of Independence, from 1947-1949, Beit Yisrael was on the front lines, and from 1949 until 1967, it was situated right near the Armistice Line and the border with Jordan.
On March 2, 2002, eleven people were killed and over 50 were injured in a suicide bombing outside a yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
in the neighborhood, where people had gathered for a bar mitzvah celebration.
Synagogues and Yeshivas
The neighborhood's main synagogueSynagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
, Beit Yaakov , was established in 1887 using funds donated by a donor who wished to remain anonymous
Anonymity
Anonymity is derived from the Greek word ἀνωνυμία, anonymia, meaning "without a name" or "namelessness". In colloquial use, anonymity typically refers to the state of an individual's personal identity, or personally identifiable information, being publicly unknown.There are many reasons why a...
. The marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
plaque, which can still be seen on the wall, relates some of the background of the donation:
There has been much speculation as to the identity of this anonymous donor. A local legend relates that a wealthy resident often lent money to local businessmen. Once, after forgetting that one of his debtors had already repaid his loan, he asked for payment. The businessman insisted that he had already paid, so they went to a local rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
. According to Jewish monetary law, in such a scenario the debtor must swear that he repaid the loan to the creditor. The debtor, not wanting to swear, paid a second time. When the creditor discovered his error, he immediately went back to the debtor and refunded his money, and, in an attempt to rectify his actions, donated the same amount to the construction fund. Not wanting to publicize the story, he asked to remain anonymous.
The Beit Yaakov synagogue also has a number of smaller rooms, known as shteiblach
Shtiebel
A shtiebel is a place used for communal Jewish prayer. In contrast to a formal synagogue, a shtiebel is far smaller and approached more casually. It is typically as small as a room in a private home or a place of business which is set aside for the express purpose of prayer, or it may be as large...
, in which minyanim can be found at almost any hour. According to the synagogue administration, more people pray there daily than in any other synagogue in Jerusalem, including the famed Zikhron Moshe
Zikhron Moshe
Zikhron Moshe is a neighborhood in the center of Jerusalem, Israel.Zikhron Moshe was founded in 1905. It is located between Meah Shearim and Geulah. The first inhabitants were secular teachers. It was one of several neighborhoods in Jerusalem named for Sir Moses Montefiore.The neighborhood grew up...
shteiblach. The entire complex was refurbished and modernized in the last few years.
To the west of the synagogue building is the Machane Yisrael yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
for baalei teshuva (returnees to religious observance).
Many other synagogues can be found in Beit Yisrael, owing to the many Jews of various ethnic backgrounds who preferred to pray according to their local custom, including Jews from Dagestan
Dagestan
The Republic of Dagestan is a federal subject of Russia, located in the North Caucasus region. Its capital and the largest city is Makhachkala, located at the center of Dagestan on the Caspian Sea...
, Kurdistan, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, and others. There are also many synagogues of various Hasidic sects, including Pinsk-Karlin, Lelov, Lubavitch, and Zvhil.
Also located in Beit Yisrael is the Mir Yeshiva
Mir yeshiva (Jerusalem)
The Mir yeshiva , known as the Mirrer Yeshiva or The Mir, is an Orthodox Jewish yeshiva in Jerusalem, Israel. With 6,000 students, it is the largest yeshiva in Israel. Many of the students are from the United States and Canada. It is also believed to be the largest yeshiva in the world...
, the largest yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
in the world, boasting over 5000 students.