Türkischer Tempel

The Turkish temple in Vienna was a synagogue in the oriental style of the Turkish Jewish community ( Sephardim ). The building was constructed Leopoldstadt 1885-1887 after plans by Hugo von Wieden field in Zirkusgasse 22 in the 2nd district of Vienna and destroyed during the pogroms of November 1938.

History

The Turkish- Jewish community was founded in Vienna in 1736 and already received by the Emperor Charles VI. numerous benefits. First of all agreements with the government of the Ottoman Empire ( Sublime Porte ) brought greater freedom of movement, which they could also claim after 1848 and 1867, an autonomous community life for the Turkish Jews. Turkish Jews in Vienna saw themselves as the elite of Judaism and cleared the preservation of their language spaniolischen and maintenance of the Sephardic rite large space. At the same time community members held upright close links with the Ottoman Empire. A House of Prayer of the Turkish - Jewish community for the first time delivered from 1778, although the situation remains unknown. 1824 the former house of prayer was destroyed in the Upper Danube street by a fire and the congregation moved into the Great Mohrengasse. However, since the number of members of the Turkish- Jewish community grew strong, the community acquired a property in the Fuhrmannsgasse (now Zirkusgasse ) 22 and began the construction of a new prayer house, which opened in 1868. Surprising, however, serious construction defects were felt, so that the building had to be torn down. With the planning of the new building is now the architect Hugo Wieden field was commissioned, whose ideas were implemented 1885-1887. On the basis of the new Israelite Law of 1890, the Turkish- Jewish community lost its independence this year and should be incorporated into the Jewish community. After long negotiations, the Sephardic community, however, was granted a degree of autonomy so that they could continue their own family register among others. As a rabbi looked at the synagogue until 1918, the Sarajevo- derived Michael Papo. After this position was practically no longer busy, because his son Manfred only sporadically exercised his activity as a rabbi in the Turkish temple. Significantly, however, was after the First World War, chief cantor Isidor Lewit, who created their own vocal direction on the basis of Turkish Sephardic melodies.

During the November Pogrom 1938, the synagogue was destroyed. 1988 was donated in memory of the synagogue of the city of Vienna, a memorial plaque.

Building

The synagogue of the Sephardic community in Vienna was built by Hugh of Wieden box modeled after the Alhambra in Moorish style. The synagogue was built between several neighboring houses, so that one could reach the entrance of the synagogue only on a forecourt. Then you went into the synagogue through a vestibule, through which you could turn to enter the square prayer hall with its 12 -meter high octagonal dome. This was driven by 17 -meter high perimeter walls and was lit by skylight windows and lanterns. The ark with the Torah was like the majority of the interior covered with marble or decorated with stucco and decorated in gold or other colors. Compared to the sanctuary there was also the organ loft. The prayer room on the ground floor consisted of 314 seats in the galleries, which were mounted on three sides of the room, also found another 360 worshipers. The galleries offered this 250 standing and 110 seats. In the alley side of the synagogue also was on the first floor a Winterbetraum with 105 seats.