Mario Botta The Cymbalista Synagogue and Jewish Heritage Center, Tel Aviv University

Mario Botta has become the world's foremost architect of churches and museums. To a series of great buildings that have been dubbed fortresses of art and culture he has added his first synagogue, a remarkable building that masterfully interprets the fundamentals of the Jewish religion. With the Cymbalista Synagogue and Jewish Heritage Center at Tel Aviv University Mario Botta is considered to have created a breakthrough in synagogue construction. Strikingly modern in style it is unencumbered by reminiscences and tradition, but still succeeds in providing a comforting feeling of protection. Several of its structural elements are symbolic: the two columns at the main entrance are reminiscent of Solomon's Temple, light comes in only from above, and there are no decorations or windows to distract from prayer.Botta, Mario is the author of 'Mario Botta The Cymbalista Synagogue and Jewish Heritage Center, Tel Aviv University' with ISBN 9781584230922 and ISBN 1584230924.