About AFOC
Much of Jerusalem was occupied by Jordan between 1948 and 1967. “The Company” was established in 1969 to rehabilitate the Jewish Quarter following the 1967 war. The Company turned the chaotic rubble into a beautiful neighborhood. By maintaining the timeless character of the Jewish Quarter, The Company makes it home for local residents and a magnetic space of national, historical, cultural and religious interest for tourists of all stripes.
The initial stage of Jewish Quarter restoration cleared the war-torn area and developed safety standards for construction and residence of the new community. By 1985, 600 Jewish families lived in the quarter. Today, it is a bustling residential district, a thriving tourist attraction, and a main thoroughfare to the Western Wall. Museums and visitor centers highlight the living history of the area. More than 100 retail stores and businesses keep the local economy vibrant.
The Company renovated, refurbished, rebuilt and maintains many landmark public projects including:
- Plugat HaKotel Museum
- The Hurva Synagogue
- The Burnt House
- The Archeological Park
- Davidson Center
- The Herodian Quarter
- The Wohl museum
- The Cardo
We are an American 501©3 tax-deductible, not-for-profit organization, dedicated to making history and reconnecting people to the glorious past and future of the Tiferet Yisrael synagogue.
Chaired by Brian Sherr, a direct descendant of Rabbi Nissan Bek, our organization is spearheading this important historical project to rebuild the important Hassidic center and reproduce its original design. We aim to restore its original glory, and make it accessible to the international public.
Board Members
Giving Back
Brian is Chairman of AFOC. His list of causes is long and includes civic, cultural, and charitable organizations:
- Former President of Jewish Family Services of Broward County Florida
- Former President of the Jewish Federation of Greater Fort Lauderdale
- Member of the Board of Directors of Jewish Federation of Broward County
- Founder and Board Member of the Daniel Cantor Senior Center
- Member of the founding board of the Ben Gamla Charter School Foundation which established the
nation’s first Hebrew English Charter School - Former Board Member of the American Friends of Ariel
- Former Member of the Aish Hatorah Jerusalem Advisory Board
Professional
Professionally, Brian is the Managing Shareholder Emeritus and a Shareholder of the Fort Lauderdale, Florida office of the international law firm of Greenberg Traurig. He is the recipient of numerous awards and distinctions.
He founded and chaired First Southern Bank of Florida and guided the bank as it grew to become a statewide institution.
Brian’s dream is to restore Tiferet Yisrael to its former glory as it becomes a gathering place for Jews from Israel and from all over the world.
Richard Finkelstein, OBM, former
Vice Chairman
Giving Back
As a South Florida resident for over three decades, Richard is deeply
Committed to his local communities, including:
- The Chairman’s Council for the Make A Wish South Florida Foundation
- National Trustee at the University of Maryland, and Chairman of the Real Estate Division
- The founding trustee and current past president of the Daniel D. Cantor Senior Center
- National Conference of Christians and Jews
- Former Board Member of the American Friends of Ariel
- Former Board Member of the Jewish Federation of Greater Fort Lauderdale
He was presented with the Tree of Life Award by the Jewish National Fund, honored by the American Friends of Ariel at their Annual Peace with Security Dinner, honored by the Anti-Defamation League, and given the Annual Community Service Award by the Soref Jewish Community Center.
Professional
Richard is the Principal and Co-Founder of Ascend Properties and the owner of Merit Builders in Boca Raton, Florida. He has been a successful developer of residential communities for more than 35 years.
Kenneth Bierman, Director
Giving Back
Kenneth has been involved in Jewish Communal affairs for the past 45 years both professionally and as a lay leader.
He sits on the Board of Directors of AFOC, and is active in AIPAC and the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute. He also holds positions of leadership in the United Way and the Memorial Hospital/DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation Board
Professional
Kenneth served as CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Fort Lauderdale over a ten-year period. He was a Market Leader at BNY Mellon Wealth Management for 17 years and is now a Strategic Advisor for Grove Bank and Trust.
Dr. Rose Lynn Sherr, Director
Giving Back
- During the first of her many visits to Israel, in 1967, Dr. Sherr volunteered
at the Onn School in Shikkun Dan in Tel Aviv. - Dr. Sherr is a 25-year active member of the Jewish Center on the upper West Side of New York City. She served as a Vice President of the Jewish Center and chaired and sat on many committees and has been a Keter Torah award recipient.
Professional
Dr. Sherr is a clinical neuropsychologist. She retired as Director of Outpatient Psychology and Clinical Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine after 40 years at the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, at the NYU Medical Center in New York City.
Judah H. Ever, Director
Giving Back
Judah’s commitment to the Jewish community extends to when he arrived in Fort Lauderdale and was one of the Founders and President’s
of the largest temple in east Fort Lauderdale. He served on the Board of
the Jewish Federation of Fort Lauderdale Foundation. He has deep roots in his Jewish heritage, as his grandfather was the founder and head of one of the first Yeshivas in America located in New Haven, Connecticut. His father was one of the first rabbis in Miami Beach in the early fifties.
Professional
Judah is Founder and Managing Partner of Ever and Company, P.A., in Fort Lauderdale C.P.A. firm for the last twenty years. He has a BBA and MBA degree from the University of Miami and was also Professor at the University.
Advisory Board Members
Norman H. Lipoff
Giving Back
Norman has been a leading figure in the Jewish world for over fifty years. His service includes the following positions:
- Trustee, Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), Current
- Board and Executive Committee, Greater Miami Jewish Federation, Current
- Board of Governors, Tel Aviv University, Current
- Board of Directors and Executive Committee, University of Florida Hillel, Current; Past Chairman, Capital Campaign
- President and Chairman of Board, Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), 2000-2005; Director, Current
- National Chairman, United Israel Appeal, 1990-1994; Board, Current
- Board, American Friends of Tel Aviv University, Current
- Chairman, Foundation of Jewish Renewal, Greater Miami Jewish Federation, 1998-2005
- Governing Council, Vice Chairman and Chairman of Development, Florida Philharmonic Orchestra, 1998-2001
- National Vice Chairman, United Jewish Appeal, 1977-1999
- Founding Chairman, Miami Commission on Jewish Renewal, 1993-1996
- Executive and the Board of Governors, Jewish Agency for Israel, 1984-1996
- Chairman, Budget & Finance Committee, Jewish Agency for Israel, 1987-1990
- Past President, Greater Miami Jewish Federation, 1982-1984
- General Chairman, Greater Miami Jewish Federation Campaign, 1977
- Associate Chairman, Young Leadership Cabinet, United Jewish Appeal, 1975-1976
- Past Chairman, Foundation of Greater Miami Jewish Federation, 1974-1976
Rabbi Ephraim Shore
Giving Back
Rabbi Shore has dedicated his life to Judaism and the Jewish people. Rabbi Shore was one of the early students of the world-renowned founder of Aish Ha Torah Rabbi Noah Weinberg ZT “L. After his Semikhah, he worked with Aish for almost 40 years and helped it to become a life changing world-wide movement providing opportunities for Jews of all background to discover their heritage. Ephraim has held the following positions with Aish Ha Torah:
- CEO of Aish Ha Torah Jerusalem
- Founder of Aish Ha Torah Miami
- Head of Aish Ha Torah Toronto
- Head of Aish Ha Torah New York
- One of the Founders and Operators of Hasbara Fellowship
- One of the Founders and Operators of Honest Reporting
Rabbi Shore lives in Jerusalem where he consults in fundraising for selective charities. He is also a licensed Israel Tour Guide.
Giving Back
Fred Zeidman is a prominent Houston based business and civic leader. His charitable positions include the following amongst numerous others:
- Chairman Emeritus of the United States Holocaust Memorial and Museum,
Washington,D.C., appointed by President George W. Bush 2002-2010. - Member of the Board and Vice Chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee of the American Friends of Yad Vashem, The World Holocaust Memorial Center, Jerusalem.
- Chairman Emeritus of the University of Texas Health Science System Houston.
- Former National Chairman of the Development Corp of Israel Campaign (Israel Bonds).
- Former Board Member of the National World War II Museum.
- Co-Chair and Director of the Council for a Secure America (CSA).
Fred is an investment banker and business person. During his distinguished career he has led and has been involved in numerous successful public and private enterprises, including many in the banking and energy fields.
The Company for the Reconstruction and Development of the Jewish Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem, Ltd.
Herzl Ben Ari, CEO
Herzl has served as CEO of “The Company” since September
2016.
Prior to his position in Jerusalem, he served as Executive Director of the religious council in the town of Karnei Shomron for 13 years, following which he became ‘Mayor’ of the town and served for two terms.
Herzl holds a BA in Business Administration and an MA in Public Police from Tel Aviv University.
He is married with six children and lives in Jerusalem.
Daniel Shukrun, Lead Manager
Daniel and his family immigrated to Israel from Morocco at three years old. He served in the Golani” brigade of the IDF and continued in the reserves for many years. To this day, Daniel volunteers for the civil defense (“Pikud HaOref”).
Daniel is a lawyer by training and held a variety of positions in public organizations involved with:
- The establishment of an organization that provided public tours of Gush Katif
- Management of towns in Judea and Samaria
- Manager of a guest house in Upper Motza on the outskirts of Jerusalem
For 17 years, Daniel has worked for “The Company” where he has held numerous positions – deputy director, corporate treasurer, and project manager. Daniel managed the project to preserve and reconstruct the “Hurva” synagogue that was dedicated in 2010, and he is now the lead manager on the “Tiferet Yisrael” project.
Worldly History of Tiferet Yisrael Synagogue
Answer: Tiferet Yisrael was the symbol of Jewish community life in Jerusalem. Towering over all other buildings in the area, Tiferet Yisrael was built to strengthen the Jewish presence in the city, in close proximity to the Western Wall and the Temple Mount.
A monumental feat of Zionism and the return of the Jewish community, original construction took more than 30 years to build and the fundraising campaign was a challenging feat.
During the excavation of the Synagogue site that preceded the beginning of its reconstruction, archaeologists uncovered relics from the Second Temple period, as well as burnt timbers from when the Romans sacked Jerusalem. The archeological finds indicated that the area served as housing for the Temple Priests during its Second Temple Period.
In 1948, the Synagogue served as a stronghold for the Hagana, as they attempted to defend Jerusalem from the Arab Legion. Tiferet Yisrael was the final Jewish holdout before the Arab Legion burned and destroyed the entire building and exiled the remaining Jews from the Old City through Zion Gate.
Only since 1967, has the Jewish Quarter been back in the hands of the Jewish people. The restoration of Tiferet Yisrael symbolizes the Zionist dream of world Jewry – a glorious return to our historic land and the restoration of the meeting place and visitor center that sums up our eternal sense of hope and the realization of Jewish national dreams.
Answer: They all play a part in the storied history of the illustrious and commanding Tiferet Yisrael.
Tiferet Yisrael was a magnificent Jewish center that towered over the entire Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, the Western Wall, and enjoyed a direct view onto the Temple Mount. The center served as a prominent symbol of the Jewish community; as a communal center and as a central Synagogue. It was a common legacy shared by these world leaders and a Hassidic Master!
How did those world leaders get involved with a synagogue?
It all started in a desperate attempt to keep the precious property in Jewish hands back in the 1830’s.
Word got out that Tsar Nicolas I wanted to purchase this key plot in the eastern section of the Jewish Quarter overlooking the Temple Mount for a church and a monastery.
Meanwhile…
Rabbi Yisrael Bek was one of the leading Jewish figures in the Old City who was helping Jews wishing to move to Jerusalem in those difficult times. They needed a communal center for activities, prayers and a place to share and celebrate life with friends and family.
He had his eye on this property for some time and started raising funds for its purchase. Suddenly, he heard a rumor that the Tsar was considering the same property for a Russian Orthodox church! Such a sale would prevent the building of a Jewish center and it would create a barrier between the Jewish Quarter and the Western Wall!
Rabbi Bek was anxious to purchase the property on behalf of the community. He sent his son Nissan on a mission to consult with their Grand Rabbi (Rebbe) of Rozhin, Rabbi Yisrael Friedman, who was in Austro-Hungary. Rabbi Friedman had recently escaped from Tsarist Russia and fled to Sadigora in the Ukraine.
An Urgent Proposition
Nissan Bek traveled to Europe where he presented the case to Rabbi Friedman, including the fact that the Tsar was interested in the property. Rabbi Friedman commanded him to purchase the property at any price and gave him a large sum of his own money to help him do so.
Nissan returned to Jerusalem, and purchased the land.
The 19th Century Building Fund Campaign
The effort to establish the Synagogue brought unprecedented unity to the Jewish community. Rabbi Yisrael of Sadigora, Rabbi Yitzchak of Boyan (the renowned “Pachad Yitzchak”), the Chief Rabbi of the land of Israel, Rabbi Refael Meir Panizil, the Bek family and many volunteers all worked in harmony to raise funds for the Synagogue.
The process to purchase the property and prepare building plans started in 1843, but it was only completed 28 years later in 1871!!!
While Nissan Bek and his father Israel were busy with the campaign, people moved to the Old City in anticipation of its construction of the Synagogue. In 1846, Elizabeth Finn, wife of the British Consul in Jerusalem James Finn, noted in her diary that there was a marked increase in Ashkenazi Jews living in the city.
While construction commenced, the Ashkenazi community gathered for prayers in a hallway in the Bek household and it very soon filled to overflowing. The need for a proper home for communal gatherings and prayer was urgent, yet there was opposition from the Ottomans who ruled in Jerusalem.
Yisrael Bek had sharp political insight. He involved the Austrian Foreign Office in his effort, as he knew that the Ottomans wanted to gain favor in the eyes of the Austrians. Bek recruited Baron Rothschild to the cause. The Austrian Vice Consul Josef Pizzanano was soon in cahoots with Rothschild and Nissan Bek and promised to do his best to influence Emperor Franz Josef to put pressure on the Ottoman Sultan for permission.
The Glory of Israel comes to Fruition
The longed-for permission was finally granted.
The actual building of the magnificent structure took place over five years beginning in 1864. In 1869, Emperor Franz Josef traveled to the region for the inauguration of the Suez Canal.
On November 10, he visited Jerusalem. It was hard to tell who was more excited over his visit, the Ottoman Sultan or the Austro-Hungarian Jews. Franz Josef visited the site of the building which was then in progress and was accorded a welcome fit for an Emperor!
“I will never forget the unprecedented honor I was accorded here by the Jews. I will never forget it as long as I live. I hope the Jews will remember me.”
Franz Josef turned to Nissan Bek, the chairman of the project and asked, “Why is there no dome at the top of your Synagogue”? Bek quickly replied, “The Synagogue has doffed its hat in your honor, Sir!”
The story has it that the emperor smiled and announced his personal donation of 1,000 francs to fund the building of the dome. However, some say that while this funding was significant, the money for the dome was raised by the Rabbi of Sadigor, Rabbi Avraham Yakov Friedman. The magnificent facility was inaugurated on the 12th day of Av in 1872 amidst much fanfare and joy with representatives of all the Jewish communities in the country and many European consuls.
To the Heights
The building was named “Tiferet Yisrael.” The Glory of Israel.” It bore Rabbi Friedman’s name (Yisrael) although it was commonly known to one and all as Nissan’s Shul.
People flocked to see the highest, majestic structure in the Old City. Nearly 80 feet high with another almost 34 feet circumference around the dome, one could see practically the entire Western Wall and Temple Mount from the top of Tiferet Yisrael.
Tiferet Yisrael was the pride and joy of the entire Jewish community worldwide. Its position facing the Temple Mount was the very expression of our people’s anticipation of redemption.
“The Synagogue has a great advantage in that around it’s peak there is a flat, fenced roof open to the winds of the sky, above the Old and New City of Jerusalem. One ascends to the roof- and behold- the entire country is spread before you. And if the synagogue itself is the Glory of Israel Tiferet Yisrael, then from its roof, one can behold the Glory of our Creator.”
People were attracted by the warmth of the modern center and the community. The Synagogue even had a heated mikvah in the basement, which was unheard of in those times! Travelers knew that a warm meal and a place to rest awaited them in this vibrant center of Jewish life in the Old City. Tiferet Yisrael played a large role in consolidating the status of the Jewish community in Jerusalem, at a time when a great influx began outside the walls.
Those who had a role in building Tiferet Yisrael and were fortunate to pray there and find their place in the community were united in agreement:
“This synagogue, that faces our Temple, the place of our Holy of Holies, the place where our prayers ascend to the heavens. This place is a ladder whose feet touch the ground, and whose head reaches the skies above, the very gates of heaven. This house is one where the Divine Spirit rests and in its merit, we will merit the rebuilding of the Temple.”
