The Belz Great Synagogue is an enlarged replica of the original 1843 synagogue in Belz, which was destroyed in World War II. Aaron Ostreicher was the architect. The Belz Hasidic community built it with help from supporters worldwide, and Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach, the fifth Belzer Rebbe, led the plans in the 1980s. It was dedicated in 2000 and completed in 2002 after 15 years.
The main sanctuary seats 2,589 worshippers, and the total capacity is about 10,000. A single dome rises 75 feet (23 meters). The ornate wooden ark is 39 feet (12 meters) high, weighs 18 short tons and holds 70 Torah scrolls. Nine chandeliers, each with over 200,000 pieces of Czech crystal, hang inside.
Four entrances open onto the four surrounding streets. Weekday services take place in smaller rooms below.
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