Supreme Court of Israel

Where biblical influences meet modern architecture

The Supreme Court of Israel, located in Jerusalem, is the highest court of the land. Until 1992, the court was located in the Russian quarter in a building owned by the Russian Church. The new court building is located between the Knesset and the domicile of Israel’s premier minister, thus symbolising the link between executive and legislature. It was inaugurated in 1992 and donated by Dorothy de Rothschild to Israel.

Architects were Ram Karmi and his sister Ada Karmi-Melamede. The court building is strongly influenced by the bible and Jewish faith. It combines modern architecture and traditional features of typical buildings of Jerusalem. Many windows and apertures are meant to illustrate internal and external boundaries as well as the connection and ever-changing relationship between court and society.

The house consists of five courtrooms of various sizes, judges' offices, an arched courtyard, a library, and a panoramic window overlooking the city.

Heidelberg Materials' subsidiary Hanson Israel delivered ready-mixed concrete for the construction of the court.