Ohel Leah Synagogue

Ohel Leah Synagogue
Hebrew: בית הכנסת אהל לאה
The exterior of the synagogue, in 2016
Religion
Affiliation	Modern Orthodox Judaism
Rite	Nusach Sefard
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Synagogue
Status	Active
Location
Location	Robinson Road, Mid-Levels, Hong Kong Island,
Country	Hong Kong SAR of China
Location of the synagogue on Hong Kong Island
Geographic coordinates	22°16′54″N 114°08′56″E
Architecture
Architect(s)	Leigh & Orange
Style	British Colonial Edwardian Zirid architecture
Groundbreaking	1901
Completed	1902

Ohel Leah Synagogue
Traditional Chinese	猶太教莉亞堂
Simplified Chinese	犹太教莉亚堂
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Yóutàijiào Lì Yà Táng Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Yàuh taai gāau leih nga tòhng Jyutping Jau4 taai3 gaau1 lei6 ngaa3 tong4
Alternative Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	猶太廟
Simplified Chinese	犹太庙
Literal meaning	Jewish temple
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Yóutài Miào Yue: Cantonese Yale Romanization Yàuh taai miuh Jyutping Jau4 taai3 miu6

The Ohel Leah Synagogue (Hebrew: בית הכנסת אהל לאה, romanized: Beit Ha-Knesset Ohel Leah) is a Modern Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at the junction of Robinson Road and Castle Road, in the Mid Levels on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong.

Overview

Together with the adjacent Jewish Recreation Club and the Jewish Community Centre, the synagogue and associated facilities have formed the center of Jewish social and religious life in Hong Kong since its establishment in 1902. Originally the community was mostly Baghdadi Sephardic Jews and the synagogue was under the superintendence of the Haham of the Spanish and Portuguese Congregation of London. The congregation is now fully independent and has members from across the Jewish diaspora.

Most of Hong Kong's Jews live only a short distance away from the synagogue. An example of British Colonial Edwardian architecture, the two-storied, whitewashed, multi-turreted Synagogue nestles amid the soaring high-rises of steel and glass perched on the Mid-Levels of Hong Kong Island. The synagogue was designed by the architects Leigh & Orange and was erected in 1901–1902. In 1998, the synagogue underwent a US$6 million restoration which returned its interiors and exteriors to their original state.

The name Ohel Leah commemorates Leah Sassoon, the mother of the Sassoon brothers Jacob, Edward, and Meyer who donated the land for building the Synagogue. The Sassoons were among the earliest Sephardic merchants from India to settle in Hong Kong during the mid to late 19th century.

Ohel Leah is a Modern Orthodox congregation and received its first officially appointed rabbi in 1961. Three other Jewish congregations have also emerged more recently in Hong Kong: the Sephardic, which is dominated by Israeli expatriates; the Chabad Lubavitch; and the United Jewish Congregation, which is aligned with the more liberal Reform and Conservative movements. Many worshippers, however, hold concurrent memberships in several congregations.

Conservation

The historic synagogue was listed as a Grade I historic building in July 1987. By December 1987, the listing was voluntarily removed as there was talk of demolishing the building. In order to provide the building with immediate protection against demolition, the Antiquities Authority of the Hong Kong Government declared it a proposed monument. Ohel Leah Synagogue was consequently saved based on a preservation arrangement agreed between Government and the owner. It was relisted as a Grade I historic building in 1990. Its renovation in 1998 obtained the Outstanding Project Award of the 2000 UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Awards for Culture Heritage Conservation.

Gallery

• 
  Synagogue from the top
• 
  Interior

See also

• History of Judaism in Hong Kong
• List of synagogues in China
• Ohel Rachel Synagogue, built by the Sassoon family in Shanghai

Further reading

• Krakinowski, Leah (August 1997). "Can $150 Million Preserve Hong Kong's Jews". Moment. pp. 52–7, 91.

External links

• Official website