Cymbalist Synagogue in Tel Aviv

Mario Botta – Cymbalista Synagogue in Tel Aviv, 1997 – 1998

A reference point for dialogue
With its distinctive square base rising into two spiraling towers, Tel Aviv University's Cymbalista Synagogue and Jewish Heritage Centre stands out as one of the most striking architectural works on campus and in Israel. Designed by the world-renowned Swiss architect Mario Botta, the building contains the highest quality materials and furnishings from all over the world, including the Torah ark made of Pakistani onyx stone, the interior walls made of golden stone from Tuscany, the black granite floor from Zimbabwe, the reddish exterior stone from the Italian Dolomites, and the light wood ceiling from Switzerland.
   
Funded by TAU Governor Norbert Cymbalista and his wife Paulette, the Center was conceived to house a synagogue and bridge the gap between the religious and secular segments of Israeli society in an academic environment. According to Norbert Cymbalista, "it was created in the spirit of respect for tradition, but also in the awareness that dialogue and the acceptance of different points of view are essential to the development of Israel as a democratic society."