Avritch Bat Ayin Synagogue

{{Infobox
|title = Avritch Bat Ayin Shul
|image        = [[File:Space holder.jpg|215px|alt=Avritch Bat Ayin Shul]]
|header1 = Hebrew:
|data2  = בית כנסת אבריטש ־ בת עין צפת
|header3 = Spelling:
|data4  = Bas Ayin,  Ovaritch, Ovritch
|header5 = Other Names
|data6   = Bat Ayin Shul Tzfat
|header7 = Description:
|data8   =  Old synagogue in Safed, Israel}}

The Avritch synagogue, also known as the “Bat Ayin” synagogue, was the scene of one of [[Safed|Tzfat’s]] biggest miracles. The synagogue today serves a Sephardic community but it originally was the shul of one of the Hassidic community’s leaders, Rabbi Avraham Dov Auerbach of Avritch. The Bat Ayin Shul is located at the edge of [[Old City Safed|Tzfat's Old City]].

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== History ==

As Jews, both Hassidic and non-Hassidic, settled in Tzfat during the [[Ottoman Rule of Safed 1760 to 1918|late 1700s and early 1800s]], different communities established their own shuls. Immigrants from such towns as Kosov, Lemberg, Chernobyl and Chotkov set up their own synagogues in Tzfat to provide familiar services and a sense of community in their shul.

Rabbi Avraham Dov Auerbach was the leader of such a group, Jews from the town of Avritch in the Ukraine. Rabbi Avraham Dov had close ties to some of the great Hassidic leaders in Eastern Europe and Safed’s Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Shmuel Heller, was one of his disciples. Along with his followers he established the Avritch synagogue, also known as the “Bat Ayin” synagogue, near the northern boundary of [[Old City Safed|Tsfat’s Old Jewish Quarter]].

== Earthquake ==

On January 1st, 1837, [[Safed 1837 Earthquake|an earthquake struck Tzfat]]. Moments before the earthquake reduced the Jewish Quarter to rubble, Rabbi Avraham Dov called out to the men who were praying the morning service in the Avritch synagogue -- “Come to stand with me by the Torah if you wish to survive.” The men crowded around Rabbi Avraham Dov and although the rest of the synagogue collapsed, the area where the men stood remained standing.

== Avritch Synagogue Today ==

In the years following the earthquake other catastrophes befell the citizens of Tzfat. The Druze and Arabs [[1838 Safed Plunder|attacked the Jews in 1838]] and a devastating epidemic swept over the community in 1840. Many residents of Safed left, including many of the congregants of the Avritch synagogue. A new “minyan” -- prayer quorum -- rebuilt the synagogue and introduced their own Sephardi customs into the services. Today, the synagogue opens for prayers on the Sabbath and holidays and follows Sephardi traditions and customs. The synagogue’s entranceway displays a plaque that attests to the miracle of Rabbi Avraham Dov during the earthquake.

{{Tzfat Synagogues}}


{{Safed History}}

[[Category:Old Synagogues]]
[[Category:Safed]]