01In brief
The Rabbi Dr. I. Goldstein Synagogue, also identified in a 1965 publication as the Israel Goldstein Synagogue, is a synagogue on the Givat Ram campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Designed by David Reznik and Heinz Rau, it was planned in 1956 and completed in 1957. Its mushroom-shaped form—an inverted dome supported by eight arches—is an award-winning example of mid-century Israeli architecture. Synagogue-architecture specialist Prof. David Cassuto described it as the first “shell” building constructed in Israel and possibly the first of its kind in the world.
02Location and Setting
The synagogue stands on the Hebrew University’s Givat Ram campus in Jerusalem, inaugurated in 1958.[4] A profile published in 2008 reported that its distance from the campus’s main study and work buildings meant that prayer quorums were seldom held there.[2]
Despite its relative isolation within the campus, the building’s distinctive silhouette makes it visually prominent among the surrounding structures.[5]
03Architecture and Design
The synagogue was planned in 1956 by David Reznik and Heinz Rau; English-language sources render Reznik’s surname as both “Resnick” and “Resnik.”[1][6] The building was completed in 1957.[1] Its form is described as mushroom-shaped, with an inverted dome supported by eight arches.[3][2] Visitors enter from below, and the sealed interior creates a disorienting yet powerful sense of enclosure and spiritual elevation.[2]
Reznik described his guiding image as “a structure on the roadside, as shelter for the wayfarer,” a translation of the Hebrew phrase quoted by Ynet from a conversation with Yaakov Malkin.[2]
Light entering through multiple exterior openings creates a particularly striking interior effect. Prof. David Cassuto, a specialist in synagogue architecture, described the illumination as “very special and wonderful,” adding that the space makes one “feel very mystical.”[3] Cassuto also identified the building as the first “shell” construction erected in Israel and suggested it may have been the first such structure built anywhere in the world, though he presented this as an uncertain claim.[3]
04Recognition
In 1965, architects Heinz Rau and David Resnik received the Ze’ev Rechter Prize of the Engineers and Architects Association for the synagogue’s design.[1] The prize, awarded every two years for a structure completed during the preceding ten years, carried an award of IL 3,000.[1] It was presented by Mrs. Rechter at a ceremony held at Beit Hamehandes in Tel Aviv on January 31, 1965.[1] The synagogue was later included in a Ministry of Foreign Affairs feature on Israeli architectural gems and in a Ynet architecture feature on Givat Ram.[3][4]
05Use and Worship
As reported on October 5, 2008, prayer quorums were held only infrequently because the synagogue was located away from the campus’s primary study and work buildings.[2] When services were held, the reported schedule placed Shacharit, the morning prayer, at 6:45 a.m. and evening prayer at the end of the academic day; attendance was described as a few dozen worshippers.[2] For Yom Kippur in 2008, the article stated that no service would be held at the synagogue.[2]
Sources
- 1Internet Archive, Full text of "News From Israel Vol.12, No. 3(feb-nov)1965", accessed on October 6, 2026.
- 2Ynet, The Most Beautiful Synagogues in Israel – Part 1, accessed on October 6, 2026.
- 3Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Architectural gems of Israel, accessed on October 6, 2026.
- 4Ynet, Around Givat Ram: A Campus of Ups and Downs, accessed on October 6, 2026.
- 5The Jerusalem Post, Grapevine: SOS Professor Henry Higgins, accessed on October 6, 2026.
- 6Ynetnews, Israel's most beautiful synagogues – part 1, accessed on October 6, 2026.
IsraelPedia Question & Answers
What is the Rabbi Dr. I. Goldstein Synagogue?
The Rabbi Dr. I. Goldstein Synagogue is a synagogue on the Givat Ram campus of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Designed by David Reznik and Heinz Rau, it was planned in 1956 and completed in 1957. Its mushroom-shaped form — an inverted dome supported by eight arches — is an award-winning example of mid-century Israeli architecture.
Who designed the Rabbi Dr. I. Goldstein Synagogue, and what inspired its form?
The synagogue was designed by David Reznik and Heinz Rau. Reznik described his guiding image as "a structure on the roadside, as shelter for the wayfarer." Visitors enter from below, and the sealed interior creates a disorienting yet powerful sense of enclosure and spiritual elevation, with light entering through multiple exterior openings to produce what synagogue-architecture specialist Prof. David Cassuto called a "very special and wonderful" illumination.
Why is the Rabbi Dr. I. Goldstein Synagogue considered architecturally significant?
Prof. David Cassuto, a specialist in synagogue architecture, identified the Rabbi Dr. I. Goldstein Synagogue as the first "shell" construction erected in Israel and suggested it may have been the first such structure built anywhere in the world, though he presented this as an uncertain claim. The synagogue was also included in a Ministry of Foreign Affairs feature on Israeli architectural gems.
What award did the Rabbi Dr. I. Goldstein Synagogue receive, and when?
In 1965, architects Heinz Rau and David Resnik received the Ze'ev Rechter Prize of the Engineers and Architects Association for the synagogue's design. The prize, awarded every two years for a structure completed during the preceding ten years, carried an award of IL 3,000 and was presented by Mrs. Rechter at a ceremony held at Beit Hamehandes in Tel Aviv on January 31, 1965.
How frequently is the Rabbi Dr. I. Goldstein Synagogue used for prayer services?
Prayer quorums at the Rabbi Dr. I. Goldstein Synagogue were held only infrequently, because the building is located away from the Givat Ram campus's primary study and work buildings. When services were held, the morning prayer was scheduled at 6:45 a.m. and attendance was described as a few dozen worshippers. For Yom Kippur in 2008, no service was held at the synagogue at all.