Description of the attraction
The Great Choral Synagogue of Grodno was rebuilt several times and burned several times. The current building of the synagogue was rebuilt in 1902-105 by Ilya Frunkin.
The first wooden synagogue was built on this site in the 16th century. The first stone synagogue was built by Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe in 1575-1580. This magnificent building was designed by the Italian architect Santi Gucci.
In 1617, a terrible fire broke out, a priceless piece of architecture perished in the fire. Soon, permission was obtained from the Polish king Sigismund II to build a new stone synagogue, which turned out to be even better than the previous one. On May 29, 1885, a fire destroyed almost the entire Jewish quarter. The synagogue burned down along with the Jewish houses. Only the goddess remained more or less unharmed by the fire. The synagogue was rebuilt.
The Great Choral Synagogue was closed after the arrival of Soviet power in 1940. During the Great Patriotic War, the Nazis used it to collect the Jews of the Grodno ghetto before being sent to execution and torture.
In 1991, the building was transferred to the Jewish community. From that moment, restoration work began. The community members themselves do a lot on their own, but there is not enough money and labor to restore the huge architectural complex. A great contribution to the restoration of the choral synagogue was made by the Australian Avi Salver, whose father once lived in Grodno.
Despite ongoing renovations and financial difficulties, the Jewish community gathers in the synagogue building. Prayers and holidays are held here. The exposition of the Grodno Jewish Museum is already in operation.
