Art: Jerusalem's New Temple

Should a house of prayer be designed by a man who prays? Not necessarily, says Architect Heinz Rau, a German Jew raised in an orthodox family, and now (at 61) an outspoken atheist. Says he: "What is needed in a house of prayer is harmonious proportion and serene atmosphere. Whether an architect succeeds in creating these is a measure of the architect's professional capabilities, and not of his religious beliefs. After all, there isn't much difference in atmosphere between St. Mark's in Venice and a synagogue."

There is a marked difference between most places of worship and a new synagogue designed by...

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