| Jerusalem |
| The Old City, Western Wall Tunnels |
| The Rabbi Getz Synagogue, Conservation and renewal |
| Orderer | The Western Wall Heritage Foundation |
| Duration | May-July 2007 |
| Implemented by: |
Aliza Van Zaiden
Evgeny Ivanovsky
Yossi Vaknin
Shiran Sabag
Ariel Elzam
Yotam Carmel
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The conservation measures implemented in the Rabbi Getz Synagogue are part of an extensive conservation, renewal and presentation program carried out in the Western Wall tunnels.
The vaults in the cavity, which is used as a synagogue, were built during the Ottoman period as part of the water storage system in the Moslem Quarter. Following the Six Day War the place was converted to a synagogue that was named after the first rabbi of the Western Wall – Rabbi Getz. The proximity of the synagogue to the Western Wall and the location of the “holy of holies” have enhanced its significance primarily among certain Haridim who have chosen to pray there.
The interior of the synagogue consists of a series of vaults that rest on the Western Wall (see attached plan). In the middle of the Western Wall’s façade is Warren’s Gate, named after Charles Warren who, on behalf of the Palestine Exploration Fund, explored the region of the Temple Mount between the years 1867-1870. The inside of the synagogue resembles the Hebrew letter ã; the eastern system of vaults, adjacent to the Western Wall, forms an elongated cavity approximately 2 x 15 meters. The southern vault rises to a height of 6.84 meters and at the top of it is an opening (that is currently blocked) through which water was drawn. The northern vault is 3.45 meters high. This elongated space is accessed via a square chamber which is the center of the synagogue and measures 4.00 x 4.30 meters x 5.65 meters high.
The physical problems that were identified at the site are: cracked masonry stones; the disintegration of bonding material inside the joints; flaking and disintegration of plaster. In addition to these there is a problem that was caused by previous conservation intervention which involved the use of cement-based plaster.
The conservation measures included: filling in the cracks in the stones; removing the remains of the disintegrated bonding material from the joints; pointing up the joints in the vaults and walls with bonding material composed of pit lime; peeling plaster; the application of lime-based plaster.
To view the figures, click on the figure caption
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