Iosefin Synagogue

Orthodox synagogue in Timişoara, Romania

  • Eclectic
  • Moorish Revival
  • Romanesque Revival
  • Gothic Revival
Date established1871 (as a congregation)Completed1895SpecificationsCapacity150Dome(s)4MaterialsBrick[1][2]

The Iosefin Synagogue (Romanian: Sinagoga din Iosefin) is an Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at Gheorghe Pop de Băsești Street, in the Iosefin district of Timișoara, Romania. The synagogue was completed in 1895 in an eclectic architectural style,[1] and it is one of the three large synagogues in the city, and the last still functioning.[3]

History

The community of Orthodox Jews in Iosefin, formed in 1871, met until 1894 in rented premises.[4] The synagogue was inaugurated on 18 September 1895, on the eve of Rosh HaShanah.[5] Rabbi Bernát Schück, as the leader of the community, made an effective contribution to its construction.[6] Carol Telbisz, the mayor of Timișoara, was also present at its inauguration.[7] Built according to the plans of the architect Karl Hart [ro] in an eclectic style with neo-Moorish, neo-Romanesque and neo-Gothic ornaments, the synagogue is modest in size compared to the other two large synagogues in the city.[5] In 1910, the synagogue was enlarged, but photographs from 1914 and 1915 show that the synagogue had only one central dome. Later it acquired its current appearance, with two central domes and two smaller, lateral ones.[5]

In the courtyard of the synagogue there were a cheder (kindergarten), a mikveh (ritual bath) and a shechita slaughterhouse.[8] The Orthodox primary school, established in 1918, moved ten years later to a new building at the end of the courtyard. The marble plaque inside the synagogue commemorates the construction of the school in 1928, honoring the names of those who contributed: First Rabbi Bernát Schück, Community President Jakab Rothbart, architects Arnold Merbl and Jakab Klein and others.[5]

At present,[when?] the Iosefin Synagogue is used on Friday evenings, Saturday mornings and High Holidays.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Iosefin Synagogue in Timişoara". Historic Synagogues of Europe. Foundation for Jewish Heritage and the Center for Jewish Art at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. n.d. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  2. ^ Szekély, Gabriel. "Sinagoga Ortodoxă din Iosefin". Poveștile Sinagogilor (in Romanian).
  3. ^ "Sinagoga din Iosefin, Timișoara". Welcome to Romania.
  4. ^ Haraszti, György. "Timișoara". The YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe.
  5. ^ a b c d "Sinagoga din Iosefin". Muzeul Virtual al Evreilor din Timișoara „Prim Rabin Dr. Ernest Neumann” (in Romanian). March 2, 2021.
  6. ^ Delesega, Gyula (2018). Temesvári kalauz téridőben (PDF) (in Romanian). Szórvány Alapítvány. p. 192.
  7. ^ a b Both, Ștefan (September 24, 2015). "Povestea sinagogii ortodoxe din Timișoara, singurul loc din capitala Banatului în care se mai roagă evreii". Adevărul (in Romanian).
  8. ^ Vultur, Smaranda (2002). Memoria salvată: evreii din Banat, ieri și azi (in Romanian). Polirom. ISBN 9789736810800.
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