The Great Synagogue of Grodno (also known as the "New" or "Choral" Synagogue)
The Great Synagogue of Grodno, also known as the "New Synagogue" or the "Choral Synagogue" is located in Grodno (now known as "Hrodna" in Belarus).
In 1572, Prague-born Rabbi Mordechai ben Abraham Jaffe arrived in Grodno. At his initiative, the first brick synagogue was built during the years 1575-1578. However, it burnt down in 1617. After the previous synagogue was also burnt down in 1899, the current synagogue was built during the years 1902-1905 in an eclectic and Moorish style.
In its current form, the Great Synagogue was erected on Wielka Troicka Street at the beginning of the 20th Century. It has a long history. The Italian architect, Santi Gucci, was invited to build it. (Several representations of the synagogue from 1870's were created by the superb painter, Napoleon Orda, who published an album of scenes from the Grodzieński province.)
Attached to the synagogue built at the beginning of the 20th Century were the remains of the 1570's prayerhouse which was severely damaged by fires in 1885 and 1900.
Not only the facade, but also the side, attached buildings are of interest having been built in the Russian modernist style. This three-storey, square, brick building is covered by a gabled roof. The main facade is flanked by square towers which end in the shape of a keel and four compact domes.
Mouldings richly adorn the facades. The main room, with its aisles, occupies the entire interior area. In the centre stands the bimah, the columns of which support a cross-ribbed vault.
On the eastern wall, in a shallow, five-cornered niche, is the prayer lecturn - on the west is the women's gallery. The interior is decorated in edged, ornamental, Gothic stucco-work.
The Great Synagogue of Grodno was closed following the establishment of Soviet authority in 1940. During the War, it was looted and the exterior was damaged by bullets and shrapnel.
Following the War, this great building was never renovated. It served as a food storage facility, a pharmaceutical repository and, later, a sculpture workshop.
In the 1990's, the building was handed back to the Grodno Jewish community. Thanks to the community's efforts, the roof and main facade have been renovated and sewerage and electricity have been re-connected. The floors and windows have been restored. The main prayer hall has been renovated and the side-columns, arches and ornamentation have been restored.
Of course, huge resources are required in order to completely restore the building - and they are currently insufficient. The building's heating is practically non-existent. The use of temporary stoves allow minyanim to assemble on cold days for prayer services.
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