Friday, October 8, 2010

A window, the sun, and Jerusalem

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As you know from yesterday's post, I was at the Hebrew University Mount Scopus campus yesterday; and the prize at the end of sitting through eight hours of lectures was a glorious sunset.

The campus synagogue, dedicated in 1981, is part of the very spread-out Humanities Building.
You can recognize it here by the Chanuka menorah on its roof.
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How would you like to pray facing this view of the Old City and beyond?!

At 5:10 the last rays of sun were bathing the interior with a warm glow.
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Most synagogues in Israel and in the world face the east, toward Jerusalem.
The congregation here on Mt. Scopus had to face west in order to face the Temple Mount (where you see the gold Dome of the Rock), so architect Ram Carmi [remember my posts on his Supreme Court building?] had an idea.
He wanted a picture window in the front, but normally the holy ark containing the Torah scrolls is in the front.
He got around it by "splitting" the ark! There are two arks, one on each side.

And then, especially for James' Weekend Reflections, the sun set behind the far-away western skyline of Jerusalem and was reflected on the outside of the Hecht Synagogue picture window.
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Shabbat shalom.
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21 comments:

  1. This sunset is a great reward for your hours there..:)

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  2. Nice sunset, nice reflection, interesting commentary on the building.

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  3. stunning, especially the middle shot
    truly beautiful

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  4. A golden sunset - even better as a reflection.

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  5. Very interesting post Dina, as well as lovely images. I was in Jerusalem two years ago and remember the university perched on the hill.

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  6. That's quite a view and a gorgeous reflection too!

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  7. Dina, you spoil us. History, architecture, sunsets, reflections. Fabulous shots.

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  8. The 2nd pic is gorgeous, Dina because of the frame (beautiful architecture) of your reflection, and the last a very unusual suset!

    Bridge in Saccamento, CA
    Jeannette

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  9. Beautiful... I like coming on your blog to get a different view on Jerusalem, different from the usual bombing news I can catch in France whenever it comes to Israel... Those pictures gives such a peaceful aspect to a country that deserve to be known for something else than war against Palestin and Arabic countries...

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  10. It is indeed very beautiful. Praying facing on that window is heavenly. Happy weekend!
    Blue sky Reflection

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  11. absolutely gorgeous Dina...thank you for sharing these lovely prayerful views!

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  12. I really like this architect, Carmi's work.

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  13. What an amazing window. The reflection is so beautiful!

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  14. Honor to the architect for a genial solution. I always thought that was the ark, not the position of synagogue itself that has to face East.

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  15. I don't know if most of us stop to think about what deep thinkers architects are! That sunset is, indeed, a grand finale to the day!

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  16. Thanks for this and for yesterday's Shabbat sunset!


    I love your blog, Dina




    Warm Aloha from Waikiki

    Comfort Spiral

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  17. The building in the top photo looks, not as if it was made FROM Jerusalem rock, but as if it WAS Jerusalem rock. It is stark and wonderful.

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  18. Ah yes! Very beautiful and stunning. You did truly have a glorious sunset.

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  19. You don't know how much I would LOVE to pray facing that view! Thank you for sharing it with us.

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