Ohel Rachel Synagogue, Historic synagogue in Jing'an District, Shanghai, China

Ohel Rachel Synagogue is a neo-Baroque pavilion entered through an Ionic portico recessed between massive rusticated piers, at 500 North Shaanxi Road. Its sanctuary, with a second-floor balcony, seats 700; the walk-in ark held 30 Torah scrolls flanked by marble pillars. The building covers 2,182 square metres.

The Ohel Rachel Synagogue was built by Sir Jacob Elias Sassoon and Sir Edward Elias Sassoon of the Sassoon family, replacing the Beth El Synagogue of 1887. It opened in March 1920 and was consecrated on 23 January 1921 by Rabbi W. Hirsch. After the 1941 Japanese occupation it was used as a stable, and in 1952 the property was seized. Restored in 1998, it held its first Rosh Hashanah service since 1952 in September 1999.

The synagogue served as the center of Sephardic Jewish life in Shanghai, with the grounds housing a library, ritual bath, school, and sports facilities. These additions reflected how important the community considered this gathering place.

The building opens for major Jewish holidays and special occasions, though visits require advance arrangements through local authorities. Plan ahead if you wish to see the interior, as access is limited to designated times.

The synagogue never housed refugees: in 1943 the Japanese occupiers turned it into a stable, while most Shanghai Jews were confined to the Hongkou ghetto, far from North Shaanxi Road. Its walk-in ark once held 30 Torah scrolls between marble pillars.