| Synagogue of Fontainbleau | |
| Native Name: | Synagogue de Fontainbleau |
| Native Name Lang: | fr |
| Image Upright: | 1.4 |
| Religious Affiliation: | Orthodox Judaism |
| Organisational Status: | Synagogue |
| Organizational Status: | --> |
| Consecration Year: | April 4, 1965 |
| Functional Status: | Active |
| Location: | 38 Rue Paul-Séramy, Fontainebleau, Seine-et-Marne |
| Country: | France |
| Map Type: | France |
| Map Relief: | 1 |
| Map Size: | 250 |
The Synagogue of Fontainebleau is an Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located in the southeast end of Rue Paul-Séramy, before Place du Bois-d'Hyver and not far from downtown Fontainebleau, in the southwest of Département of Seine-et-Marne, France. The building and its land are adjacent to the gardens of the Palace of Fontainebleau.
The modern-day synagogue was completed in 1965, to replace an earlier synagogue, completed in 1857, which was burned down during the Nazi occupation of France in 1941.
The first religious site for Jews in the city was created by the Wahl brothers in a Hôtel particulier on Rue des Trois-Maillets and then later in a house close to Rue des Maudinés (today Rue des Pins) behind Hôtel des Menus-Plaisirs. In 1845, the Jews of Fontainebleau requested money from Queen Amélie to repair their house of prayer.
Groundbreaking on the synagogue began on May 21, 1856.[1] The synagogue was financed through a raffled organized by Baroness Rothschild. The synagogue was consecrated occurred on August 23, 1857.[2] On this occasion the torah scrolls were transferred to the Rue des Pins location.
Following the invasion of Nazi forces in 1940, the synagogue was vandalized with antisemitic graffiti. The synagogue was burned April 10–12, 1941, not by the Nazis, but by French collaborators, who were not identified.[3]
A memorial plaque to the first synagogue was placed on the wall a building at 36 Rue Paul-Séramy.
A new synagogue was rebuilt following the war.[4] The synagogue was consecrated on April 4, 1965, with Chief Rabbi of France Jacob Kaplan, Chief Rabbi of Pairs Meyer Jaïs and Alain de Rothschild, President of the Israelite Central Consistory of Paris.[5]
The building adopted a rectangular design. The Ten Commandments are mounted above the entrance.