Great Synagogue, Danzig

The Great Synagogue of Danzig was the largest synagogue in the city, which was built in the years 1885-1887 at the former Reitbahnstrasse ( today's street Bogusławskiego ). She was scheduled for 2000 worshipers and decorated in a neo-renaissance style. The inauguration on 15 September 1887 by the Danzig Rabbi Werner Kossman.

As of April 1939, the synagogue was destroyed at the instigation of Gdańsk authorities.

Architecture

The synagogue was built in the Neo-Renaissance style on the basis of a long rectangle. With a large dome, two towers and the nightly lighting it was one of the most distinctive buildings in Gdansk. The window in the middle of the front of the building showed stained glass Star of David and all the spiers also wore Stars of David.

The spacious interior of the building was surmounted by a dome, hung on the huge chandelier. The great hall was located directly under the dome. The ark was placed on a pedestal behind a curtain Parochet in an apse. Above the ark there was a plaque with the Ten Commandments, which was supported by two stone lions. Behind the ark was a large organ and space for the choir, with its 100 members. The lectern, the bimah, was standing behind the pedestal.

More than 2,000 church members were able to participate in the service. In the main room there are two rows of benches were for more than 1,600 worshipers. Along the side walls and above the west entrance were massive, supported by square pillars arches galleries (balconies ) for more than 300 women. The walls were decorated with plant motifs, geometric symbols and biblical verses.

The whole synagogue was electrically heated and lit, which was unusual even by the end of the 19th century.

History

The synagogue was funded by the five reform - Kehillas in Winnicy, Wrzeszcza, Szopy, Starych Szkotów and ul Szerokiej and built by the Berlin firm selected by the City Council end and Boeckmann. It was opened with a ceremony attended by the community and the City Council on September 15, 1887 by the Danzig Rabbi Werner Kossman. The Torah scrolls from the Old Synagogue and two other synagogues were placed in the Aron HaKodesh and the eternal light was lit. The new Great Synagogue was seen as building on the agreement of all Danzig Jews. The first service was held on December 8, 1887. The painting was done in 1899 by the Berlin painter Julius Bodenstein.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the synagogue had become a well-known center of Reform Judaism. A great museum of Judaism had many rare and ancient objects, in particular this included the collection of Lesser Gieldzinski. The building also hosts concerts were organized, rabbis and priests from all over the world stopped here readings.

1927 was completed with the New Synagogue another synagogue of the city in the long transit district.

The rise of anti-Semitism

Increasingly in the 1920s strengthened the anti-Semitism and the Nazi Party gained more power in Germany. Danzig was still strongly associated with Germany, although it was officially placed under the League of Nations after the Treaty of Versailles as a free city. Danzig was increasingly becoming an unpleasant residence, which after the takeover of political responsibility by the Gdańsk branch of the National Socialist Party in March 1933, increased for the Jewish population.

The synagogue was consequently twice target of arson attacks. Both attacks have been thwarted by the protection of the building erected by the Jewish population militia. Although the Constitution of the Free City of Danzig Danzig Jews were granted greater protection than their co-religionists in Germany, invaded sympathizers of the Nazis in August 1938 in the synagogue, and trod the Torah scrolls. The head of the Kehillas decided to save some remnants and let the archive to Jerusalem, the library to Vilnius and the Museum's collection in the United States outsource. At the same time had the synagogue because of claims of financial management organ to Krakow, sell candlesticks to Warsaw and the banks in the district of Gdansk Nowy Port.

The end of the Great Synagogue

In the spring of 1939, the synagogue was sold to the Senate of Danzig. On 15 April 1939, the last service was celebrated in the building, and a short time later, the Senate of the city began to develop his work: A banner with the text "Come dear May and make of us Jews now free" was the fence around the building suspended and attached to the facade of a banner announcing the demolition. As of May 2, dominated by the Nazis government had the building torn down.

The end of the Jewish community

After the German invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, military forces of the German Empire entered into the city, beat down all resistance and occupied the city for the German Reich. During the Second World War, many Danzig Jews died as a result of the Holocaust. Since the end of the war Gdansk Gdańsk is as under Polish sovereignty and many of the survivors left Europe to settle in Israel.

The site of the synagogue is not used currently. Parts of the site include the new Jewish community in Gdańsk, other parts include the Urząd Ochrony Państwa, the Polish state protection, and on the rest of the establishment of a theater is provided. Realistic plans to rebuild the synagogue are not known.