Welcome to Ohel Yaakov Synagogue in Zichron Yaakov

The beautiful ancient synagogue "Ohel Yaakov" is located at the junction of Rechov Hanadiv and Rechov Hamyasdim in Zichron Yaakov. Easily reached from all parts of Israel.The synagogue was constructed in 1886,4 years after the arrival of 300 religious families in zichron yaakov from Romania.They obtained the funds to build the synagogue from Baron Edmund de Rothschild who was very supportive of the settlement and also established carmel winery which is the now the largest kosher winery in the world.However since at that time the country was under the rule of the Ottaman empire who were of course of the muslim faith,it was impossible to obtain building permission to build a synagogue.They got around this problem by claiming that they were building a huge cowshed,and only after putting the roof on the building in one night with the help of the Templars (german christians living in haifa) were they able to use an Ottaman law which states that once a building has some kind of roof,it cannot be destroyed no matter how illegaly it may have been constructed.
.They were then able to finish of the synagogue as it looks today except for a few differences.
1.The bimah which is now in the center was originally at the front ,until 1913 when Rabbi Kook paid a visit and refused to pray there until it was moved from the front into the middle.
2.The blue starred ceiling was added about 40 years ago to represent the promise by g-d that we will be as multiple as the stars in the heavens.
3.The stain glassed windows representing the 12 tribes also about 40 years ago.
There have only been 3 rabbis since the opening of the synagogue.The first one Rabbi Orlansky had the misfortune to be in Hebron in 1929 when the arabs rioted and murdered 69 people including Rabbi Orlansky and his family,leaving only his young daughter Minah.The synagogue agreed that whoever she would marry,that person would become the new rabbi,and it happens that a young man by the name of yekutiel azrieli who had been left for dead by the arabs in hebron married Minah,became the rabbi and served the synagogue for over 60 years until he died in 1993.and was replaced by the present Rabbi Abramovsky.
There are services 3 times a day and have been for the past 123 years without a break.

The synagogue is open for services every weekday in the morning at 6.00am,and 20 minutes before sunset in the evening. Friday evening services 15 minutes after candlelighting,and 8.00am Saturday morning. 

For further information please contact Gershon Coren at 0545512197.or gershoncoren@msn.com