Hechal Yehuda Synagogue, Tel Aviv

Hechal Yehuda Synagogue is a seashell shaped building with a 600 seat capacity, 200 for women and 400 for men in separate galleries. Due to its unique shape, this building is also referred to as seashell. Some believe that it exactly resembles seashells found on the shores of Thessaloniki. Thessaloniki, the Greek city, was the wealthy Rekanati family’s hometown. This family donated money to construct the synagogue.

Hechal Yehuda Synagogue was built to commemorate the Jewish community of Thessaloniki. During the Holocaust, this community was completely destroyed.

Rekanati synagogue as some call it is one of the 500 synagogues in Tel Aviv. This place of worship, affiliated with Orthodox Judaism, is located in Menahem ben Saruq Street at the center of the city.

On the northern front of the synagogue, you can find elaborate Jewish symbols and motifs and decorations like stars of David and menorahs on concrete. You can find descriptions of Israeli holidays and Shabbat on the stained glass windows which were made by Josef Shealtiel, the local artist.

This synagogue was completed in the year 1980 and is frequented today by the Greek-Sephardi Jews who originate from Thessaloniki. This is one of the main tourist attractions that you must not miss on your visit to Tel Aviv.