Rabbi Amram Aburbeh began the project of building a new Synagogue to accommodate the growing number of Ma’araviim Maghrebi Jewish families that were exiting the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem and settling in newer neighborhoods.
He approached Don Yamin Ben Harroch, who headed the Jewish community in Melilla, Spain, and was known for his philanthropy.
The project appealed to Ben Harroch, so he agreed to contribute funds to enable the construction.

On Tuesday, October 26, 1926, (18 Cheshvan 5687 Jewish calendar) the cornerstone laying ceremony for the Synagogue building took place in the Nachalat Ahim neighbourhood.
At 3 pm the celebration started with the Beit Chinuch Ivrim (The Blind School) youth orchestra.
Several leaders of the Jewish communities in Jerusalem were invited to be present.
There were the Rabbis representing Sephardi Jews and Ashkenazi Jews.
Among them were Rabbis Shmuel Azran, Harav Hanazir-Rabbi David Ha-Cohen, Harlap, Ovadia Hadaya, Shimon Ashriki, and Shmuel Allaluf.
The speaker at the ceremony was Avraham Elmalih, a representative of the Ma’araviim committee.
The first stone was placed by Rabbi Nissim Elishar, followed by the other guests.
Amram Aburbeh insisted that only Jewish workers would be permitted to work on the building.

Rabbi Amram Aburbeh headed the Or Zaruaa synagogue since its inception in 1926 till 1951 when he was elected to be Chief Rabbi in Petah Tikva, Israel.
Rabbi Amram Aburbeh began the project of building a new Synagogue to accommodate the growing number of Ma’araviim Maghrebi Jewish families that were exiting the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem and settling in newer neighborhoods. He approached Don Yamin Ben Harroch, who headed the Jewish community in Melilla, Spain, and was known for his philanthropy. The project appealed to Ben Harroch, so he agreed to contribute funds to enable the construction.
On Tuesday, October 26, 1926, (18 Cheshvan 5687 Jewish calendar) the cornerstone laying ceremony for the Synagogue building took place in the Nachalat Ahim neighbourhood. At 3 pm the celebration started with the Beit Chinuch Ivrim (The Blind School) youth orchestra. Several leaders of the Jewish communities in Jerusalem were invited to be present. There were the Rabbis representing Sephardi Jews and Ashkenazi Jews. Among them were Rabbis Shmuel Azran, Harav Hanazir-Rabbi David Ha-Cohen, Harlap, Ovadia Hadaya, Shimon Ashriki, and Shmuel Allaluf. The speaker at the ceremony was Avraham Elmalih, a representative of the Ma’araviim committee. The first stone was placed by Rabbi Nissim Elishar, followed by the other guests. Amram Aburbeh insisted that only Jewish workers would be permitted to work on the building.
Rabbi Amram Aburbeh headed the Or Zaruaa synagogue since its inception in 1926 till 1951 when he was elected to be Chief Rabbi in Petah Tikva, Israel.
Or Zaruaa Synagogue