Tzemach Tzedek - Yerushalayim

Beit Knesset Tzemach Tzedek is a Chabad Shul that was founded in the month of Menachem Av 5639 (1879) in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Yerushalayim.

The Shul is located on the second floor of a building on Chabad Street, opposite the Hurva Shul, in a place known as "Chabad Courtyard."

The Sifrei Torah of the children of Israel are brought into this Shul.

Establishment of the Shul edit

The shadar (emissary) Rabbi Shneur Zalman traveled to raise funds for the Chabad community in Yerushalayim, to Mumbai, India, where he established connections with two families of Iraqi origin: the Sassoon family and the Yehuda family. He gained their trust and they decided to establish a Shul for the Chabad community in Yerushalayim.

In the Shul, there is a dedication in honor of the donors:

His Excellency, the wealthy minister Eliyahu Sassoon from the city of Mumbai, for the elevation of his wife's soul.
His honorable brother, the minister and officer Sir Abdullah, and also his esteemed wealthy brothers.

The family members requested that memorial prayers and blessing be recited on all Sabbaths and holidays for Eliyahu Tachbatad, his brother.

At the end of the dedication, there is a warning that the Shul may not be sold or mortgaged.

The original name of the Shul was "Knesset Eliyahu" after the Shul's donors, but in 5688 (1928) the name of the Shul was changed to Tzemach Tzedek.

The Building edit

The building is located in a place called "Chabad Courtyard" and has two floors.

Personalities of the Shul edit

Rabbi Shneur Zalman Fradkin of Lublin (author of "Torat Chesed") immigrated to Yerushalayim in 5652 (1892) and was appointed as the head of Kollel Chabad in the city and rabbi of the Shul.
Rabbi Yitzchak Avigdor Ornstein, who served as the rabbi of the Western Wall until the War of Independence, was one of the main worshippers in the Shul.
Rabbi Adin Even-Israel of blessed memory served as the rabbi of the Shul. He would pray at the Shul during the morning service on Sabbaths and would give sermons on Shabbat Shuva and Shabbat HaGadol. In his later years, after suffering a stroke, his son Meni Even-Israel delivered his sermons.
Rabbi Yehoshua Yuzevitch serves as the gabbai of the Shul and its permanent manager.
Rabbi Chaim Shalom Deutsch, head of the 'Tzemach Tzedek' kollel.
Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Segal, head of the Tzemach Tzedek kollel.

The Rebbe's Relationship to the Shul edit

Since the redemption of the Shul during the Six-Day War, the Rebbe showed a special relationship toward the Shul and took a particular interest in it and its renovation, for which purpose the Rebbe enlisted President Mr. Zalman Shazar, established a special committee, encouraged the renovation and restoration through many letters, and more.

The Rebbe explained that his special relationship to the Shul stems from the fact that it is not "like all other Chabad Shuls in all their places of settlement," since it is a general Shul that constitutes "the heritage of all Anash (Chabad Chassidim) throughout the world, and any progress in this matter is progress that concerns all Anash throughout the world," and it is "a general asset, the holding of the entire Anash community wherever they are, and a plot in Yerushalayim, the Holy City."

The Public Committee for the Shul edit

On 2 Nissan 5728 (1968), the Rebbe established a committee whose task was to redeem the Shul, renovate it and manage it. The Rebbe gave the committee the name "Public Committee for the Tzemach Tzedek Shul in Yerushalayim" and also chose its members, who effectively represent all the main Chabad institutions that operated at that time in the Holy Land and in Yerushalayim, in accordance with the Rebbe's approach to the Shul as a Shul belonging to all Anash:

Representative of Kollel Chabad: Rabbi Azriel Zelig Slonim.
Representative of Hebron and Toras Emes Yerushalayim: Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin.
Representative of Tomchei Temimim: Rabbi Efraim Wolf.
Representative of Kfar Chabad: Rabbi Zushe Wilmowsky.
Representative of Agudas Chassidei Chabad: Rabbi Avraham Pariz.

Rabbi Slonim was elected as chairman of the committee. Rabbi Yehoshua Yuzevitz was appointed as gabbai and manager of the place.

Sefer Torah from the Rebbe edit

After the Six-Day War in 5727 (1967), Chabad chassidim returned to it and under the Rebbe's instructions, Chabad activities began at the site. In order to strengthen those engaged in the work, the Rebbe sent a Sefer Torah through Rabbi Yaakov Yehuda Hecht, who served as spiritual director at Beis Rivkah institutions in Crown Heights. The Sefer Torah arrived the day after Shushan Purim 5729 (1969).

At four in the afternoon, the Sefer Torah left the Western Wall accompanied by a festive procession, orchestra and dancing toward the "Tzemach Tzedek" Shul.

Today edit

Today the building serves as an active Shul on Shabbos and holidays and as a center for chassidic farbrengens on every occasion and chassidic holiday.

During weekdays, the Shul hosts a kollel for avreichim under the management of Rabbi Chaim Shalom Deutch and Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Segal.

On the entrance floor of the Shul (where the Frierdiker Rebbe received people for yechidus), a main Chabad House operates on weekdays under the management of Rabbi Mendel Azdaba.

On the entrance floor there is a hall that serves as a place for the seudas mitzvah for hachnasas sefer Torah celebrations for Jewish children. Throughout the year it serves Anash who organize small events in the Old City.

External Links edit

The Shul's website
The Tzemach Tzedek Shul in the book "History of Chabad in the Holy Land." Chapter on Chabad Shuls in Yerushalayim (five out of six chapters deal with the Tzemach Tzedek Shul)
Establishment of the "Tzemach Tzedek" Kollel in the Old City of Yerushalayim, Hiskashrus magazine no. 725, Nitzutzei Rebbi section
Torah Will Come Forth from "Tzemach Tzedek" Kollel, Hiskashrus magazine no. 726, Nitzutzei Rebbi section
Rabbi Mordechai Menashe Laufer, The "Tzemach Tzedek" Shul in the Old City, Hiskashrus 1340, Vayikra 5780 (2020)
Chabad Landmarks | Tzemach Tzedek Shul – Old City of Yerushalayim