Last Updated on November 5, 2021

Synagogues & Religious Services in Israel

The office of the Chief Rabbinate is located in Jerusalem and it is the supreme rabbinic and spiritual authority for Judaism in Israel.  There are two Chief Rabbis – one is Ashkenazi and the other is Sephardi.  The Chief Rabbinate Council assists the two chief Rabbis who alternate in its presidency.

The Rabbinate has jurisdiction over many aspects of Jewish life in Israel; Jewish marriage and divorce, burials, Jewish conversion, kosher laws and kosher certification (kashrut), Jewish immigrants (olim) Jewish holy sites, Mikvaot (ritual baths) yeshivas and the Rabbinical Courts.

The Rabbincal Courts are part of Israel judicial system and are managed by the Ministry of Religious Services – HaMisrad LeSherutei Daat

There are Orthodox, Ashkenazi and Sephardi synagogues all over Israel.  Reform (Progressive Judaism) and Conservative congregations in the main centers, have a growing English speaking membership.  The LGBTQ community also offers religious activities for its members.

Please note that this page is being being updated

Synagogues in Ashkelon

Kehilat Netzach Yisrael

Kehilat Netzach Yisrael is the only non-orthodox synagogue in Ashkelon and offers an egalitarian, pluralistic and family-orientated approach to Judaism and caters to a range of languages, including Hebrew, English, Spanish and Russian. Members come from many different backgrounds:  Sephardim and Ashkenazim daven there.

Central Afridar Synagogue

The Central Afridar Synagogue is on Zonabend Street,  close to the Ganei Shimshon Hotel is also popular with the English speaking immigrant community. It was established by the South African community of Ashkelon in the 1950’s.

Central Barnea Synagogue

The Central Barnea Synagogue is on Yiftach Hagiladi Street and Kehilat Migdat on Tzahal Street are part of  Chabad

Synagogues in Haifa

Members of our Haifa community wrote in and told us about their synagogues:

The Maor Yehuda Synagogue

By: The Hyman Family

Rabbi Shear-Yeshuv Cohen – Chief Rabbi of Haifa, describes Maor Yehuda Synagogue as  “an exceptional community consisting of members of the Technion faculty, new immigrants,… as well as long-time Israelis from many different backgrounds. The project that they have undertaken is holy in every sense…”Established in 1978 by immigrants from English-speaking countries, from Switzerland and from France, who wished to carry on the positive aspects of Orthodox Jewish communal life found in the Diaspora in their new home in Israel. 

For the first twenty years, the minyan was located in a variety of places, including the bomb shelter of a school.  In 1989 the city of Haifa granted us a plot of land in Ramat Almogi on the ridge of Mount Carmel.  Using funds provided by our members, private gifts, and some State grants, we built a synagogue and community room.   Located at 13A Blitental Street, Ramat Almogi, between the Technion (The Israel Institute of Technology) and the University of Haifa, the synagogue serves the needs of  75 plus member families and the residents of more than 1,000 newly completed homes in the area.  In addition, we welcome families spending a sabbatical at one of Haifa’s universities, high-tech campuses, or R&D centers. Mincha commences 20 minutes after candle lighting time, followed by Maariv.  Shachrit on Shabbat is at 08:15.

For more information write to info@maoryehuda.org

The Kehilat Moriah Conservative Congregation

By: Rabbi Dubi Haiun

Kehilat Moriah is the oldest Conservative congregation in Israel. We are located at 7 Moriah Avenue, in the Ahuza neighborhood on Mt. Carmel (near the Horev Center).  Moriah has  more than 150 families and individuals as members.

We welcome all worshipers, and during holidays, especially Yom Kippur, Simhat Torah, and Purim – we are joined by many neighborhood residents. Others come to us to commemorate life-cycle events, from the birth of a child through Bar or Bat Mitzvah, weddings, and memorial services. Moriah also runs a number of social, cultural and educational activities, including outreach programs aimed at non-members as well as members. The doors of Moriah are open not only on Shabbat and holidays. The congregation hast two preschool classes, and to a flourishing youth group under the auspices of NOAM, the youth branch of the Israeli Conservative movement.  We are extending our premises thus enabling us to expand our educational offerings. Finally, the idea of tikkun olam – a rabbinic concept that has come to mean the pursuit of human welfare and social justice – is an integral part of our worldview at Moriah, expressed in initiatives both ongoing and linked to events in the Jewish year.  Contact the secretary for service times, membership fees for families and individuals at moriahaifa@022.co.il or telephone 04-8251245. The Moriah Conservative Congregation offers free membership to unemployed new immigrants.

Ohel Avraham

By: Carol Goldgeier

The synagogue of the Leo Baeck Education Center, Ohel Avraham, is affiliated  with the Reform Movement (Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism).The synagogue holds Kabbalat Shabbat services at 5:30pm in the winter and 6:00pm in the summer. Most Shabbat mornings services are held at 9:30am. All services are open to the public. Social, cultural and educational events are held on an on going basis but change monthly. Likewise, we hold  life cycle events including Bar and Bat Mitzva, Shabbat chatan and kallah, weddings, baby naming’s and more. Our members include olim from around the world as well as native Israelis. Annual dues are 900 shekels but a discount may be considered, upon review, for new immigrants. Our spiritual leader is Rabbi Gabby Dagan. For more information about the synagogue please call 04-8300542

Or Hadash

By: Or Hadash Secretariat

Or Hadash – The Lyons Center for Progressive Judaism, in the Ahuza neighborhood is a thriving Reform community in Israel. Since 1964 Or Hadash has been growing, and developing in size and scope. Every year more than 15,000 visitors encounter Israeli Reform Judaism through participating in at least one activity at Or Hadash. With a large variety of Tikun Olam programs, Or Hadash is a world-leading congregation in the field of Social Action.

With an average of 200 Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremonies each year Or Hadash is a world leader in this field.  The synagogue accommodates children with special needs and has performed hundreds of bar and bat mitzvahs for them. Building strong connections with Reform congregations in the US, Or Hadash maintains weekly contact with 800 families/rabbis/educators from dozens of sister congregations in the US. Several hundred Jews-by-choice have studied at Or Hadash. Every year, 50-60 people apply to convert to Judaism at Or Hadash – representing almost 30% of the total number of conversion students in Israel over the past 7 years. Since 1999 three Or Hadash pre-schools have been educating children in the spirit of Reform Judaism and hundreds of youngsters have been schooled in this way. With a steady Kabalat Shabbat minyan of 150-220 and more than 300 life cycle events per year, Or Hadash is the largest Reform synagogue in northern Israel. Or Hadash has a widespread educational outreach program.  More than 4,000 pupils from 12 different elementary, junior high and high schools have the opportunity to become familiar with Reform Judaism. Over the past six years, 25,000 students from 37 different schools have visited Or Hadash. The only Israeli Religious Action Center office in the north of Israel is located inside the Or Hadash building. Legal aid is provided for thousands of new olim mainly from Ethiopia and Russia. Or Hadash in Haifa is a recognized institution and works in cooperation with the Haifa Municipality, with psychologists, social workers and dozens of volunteer organizations.  The spiritual leader, Rabbi Dr. Edgar Nof,  says “Members of our community are here for you.  We have a special program for helping new immigrants: we provide Hebrew lessons, social and financial support and reduced membership fees.  Joining Or Hadash is a wonderful way to become part of a vibrant community in Haifa. The State of Israel needs Reform Judaism and by joining Or Hadash, you are supporting the establishment of the ethical, egalitarian and democratic values of Reform Jewish life in Israel.”

Or Hadash has a large English speaking congregation.

For more information, in English, contact:
Or Hadash”, The Lyons Center for Progressive Judaism (R.Soc.)
55 Hantke St.
P.O.Box 3711, Haifa 31036
        
Tel: 972-4-8343905/6                  
E-mail: com1@or-hadash.org.il  

Synagogues in Modiin

With thanks to the Modiin Municipality

Synagogues in Raanana

Thanks to the Raanana Municipality for sending us this list of synagogues.

A complete list of synagogues in Israel can be found (in Hebrew) on www.kipa.co.il/synagogue

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