Ades Synagogue, Synagogue in Nachla'ot, Jerusalem, Israel.
Ades Synagogue is an Orthodox Jewish congregation at 1 Beer Sheba Street in the Nachla'ot neighborhood of Jerusalem. Its traditional Middle Eastern interior has a high ceiling, chandeliers, wooden benches facing a central dais, a small women's balcony, and a walnut Torah Ark covering the entire eastern wall, inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Murals of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, painted around 1911–12 by Ya'acov Stark of Bezalel, line the upper walls.
The synagogue was founded in 1901 to serve the Syrian Halabi community that had migrated from Aleppo, established by community leaders Yosef Yishak Ades and Obadia Yoshiahu Ades. It represents an important gathering place for this immigrant Jewish population in Jerusalem during the early twentieth century.
The synagogue preserves Syrian Halabi traditions through musical prayers called Maqamat, which follow specific musical patterns based on different liturgical purposes. Visitors can experience this distinctive singing style during services, especially at winter Sabbath celebrations.
Ades holds two morning services daily, including Shabbat and holidays, plus a combined afternoon and evening service starting just before sundown. Winter Shabbat baqashot sessions begin around 3 a.m. and draw dense crowds, so arrive early. The synagogue is a regular stop on Nachlaot walking tours.
The ark was brought to Jerusalem in parts from Syria, not made in Damascus. Worshippers erased the symbol of the tribe of Dan, a snake, from the wall murals shortly after they were painted, fearing it could harm pregnant women; the snake symbol is still there.
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