Bolshaya Bronnaya Synagogue Explained

Building Name:Bolshaya Bronnaya Synagogue Московская Синагога на Большой Бронной улице
Location: Moscow, Russia
Religious Affiliation:Orthodox Judaism

The Bolshaya Bronnaya Synagogue (Russian: Московская Синагога на Большой Бронной улице) is a Russian synagogue, located at 6 Bolshaya Bronnaya Street in Moscow.

The synagogue was built as a private synagogue by pre-revolutionary millionaire Lazar Solomonovich Polyakov. Privately constructed and owned synagogues that served congregations were a familiar tradition in many parts of Europe; in the Russian Empire, great magnates could sometimes get permission to erect private synagogues outside of the Pale of settlement when congregations could not.

The pre-war rabbi was executed by the Soviet government in 1937 and the building was converted into a trade union meeting hall. In 1991, the building was transferred to Chabad Lubavich. In 2004, a renovation was completed. The building includes classrooms, a bookstore, a lecture hall, mikvah and kosher restaurant.[1] Since 1991, the rabbi has been Yitzchok Kogan.

In 1999 there was a failed bomb attack on the synagogue.[2] [3] [4] On January 11, 2006, the synagogue was attacked by a neo-Nazi skinhead who stabbed nine people.[5] According to The Forward, 20-year-old Alexander Koptsev shouted "I will kill Jews" and "Heil Hitler" before stabbing at least eight men. The rabbi jumped Kotsev, and the rabbi's 18-year-old-son, Yosef Kogan, wrestled him to the ground. Kogan held the assailant until police detained him.[6] A documentary film was made about the two incidents.https://web.archive.org/web/20101204120820/http://www.accfilmstudio.com/3.html

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FJC | News | Bolshaya Bronnaya Synagogue Inauguration Next Week . 2010-02-16 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110617000313/http://www.fjc.ru/news/newsArticle.asp?aid=163487 . 2011-06-17 .
  2. RUSSIA: 8 WOUNDED IN ATTACK ON MOSCOW SYNAGOGUE; New York Times, Jan 12, 2006 https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/12/international/12briefs.html?oref=login
  3. JWeekley.com, Rabbi’s son foils bombing attempt at Moscow shulby LEV KRICHEVSKY, Jewish Telegraphic Agency http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/11250/rabbi-s-son-foils-bombing-attempt-at-moscow-shul/
  4. Web site: 1999-08-16 . A history of hate . 2022-12-09 . the Guardian . en.
  5. Web site: 2006-01-13 . Shul Stabbings . 2022-12-09 . The Forward . en.
  6. Perelman, Marc. "Calls for Protection Rise After Attack in Moscow International". January 20, 2006 http://www.forward.com/articles/1504/