Zaniomanskaja Synagogue Explained

Zaniomanskaja Synagogue
Native Name:Belarusian: Занёманская сынагога
Image Upright:1.4
Festivals:-->
Organisational Status:Synagogue
Organizational Status:-->
Functional Status:Destroyed
Location:Grodno, Grodno Region
Country:Belarus
Map Type:Belarus
Map Size:250
Map Relief:1
Coordinates:53.6708°N 23.825°W
Architecture Type:Synagogue architecture
Architecture Style:Wooden
Date Destroyed:during World War II
Date Destroyed:-->
Elevation Ft:-->

Zaniomanskaja Synagogue (Belarusian: Занёманская сынагога; Polish: Synagoga drewniana w Grodnie) was a vernacular wooden synagogue located in the city of Grodno, in Belarus. It was built in in what was then the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. The synagogue was damaged by a fire in 1899 and then rebuilt, adding two small corner buildings. It was destroyed by the Germans during World War II.[1] [2]

Description

The synagogue building was long, wide and high. There was a separate section for women in the northern and southern part of the ground floor and in the gallery.

The walls were richly decorated with biblical verses and prayers. Following the example of Polish landowners' seats, at the façade there were corner alcoves, often used in synagogues in the mid-18th century.

In the interbellum period (1918–1939), Professor Oskar Sosnowski from the Department of Architecture of the Polytechnic of Warsaw and photographer and art historian Szymon Zajczyk directed architects to create extensive documentation of the wooden synagogues. They created architectural drawings, replica paintings, and photographs. Much of this project was destroyed during World War II but a substantial amount survived.[3]

The synagogue in Grodno was measured and photographed in 1928.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Farran . Bill . Hrodna . Lost Treasures: The Wooden Synagogues of Eastern Europe .
  2. Web site: Wooden Synagogue in Grodno, Belarus . The Center for Jewish Art .
  3. Web site: A brief history of Polish synagogues .