The Tiferet Yisrael Synagogue in Jerusalem. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

The Jerusalem Municipality has announced plans to restore the historic Tiferet Yisrael Synagogue, located in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City, Israel National News reported.

Originally dedicated in 1872, the synagogue was built as a place of prayer for the Old City’s Hassidic community. It became famous for its magnificent domed roof that dominated the Old City’s skyline. The dome was nicknamed “Franz Josef’s hat,” after the 19th century Austrian Emperor Franz Josef I, who provided the funding for the dome’s construction after seeing its unfinished roof on a visit to Jerusalem.

However, today the synagogue sits in ruins after Jordanian forces destroyed it during the 1948 War of Independence.

The nearby iconic Hurva synagogue—also destroyed in 1948—was rededicated in 2010.

“The Municipality considers the restoration and preservation of traditional sites in Jerusalem a very important project. The Tiferet Yisrael Synagogue was one of the greatest symbols of the Old Jewish Yishuv (pre-state community) in Jerusalem. We are proud to be able to restore and rebuild it,” said Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat.