Great Synagogue, Białystok

The Great Synagogue of Białystok (Polish: Synagoga w Wielka Białymstoku ) was located at the Suraskastraße, was built in 1909-1913, replacing the old synagogue that was built in 1764; it was designed by Samuel (also Szlojme ) Rabinowicz. The synagogue was burned down on 27 June 1941 by the Nazis, while in her an estimated number of about 2,000 Jews was (this number is, among others, on the plaque of today's memorial, the Internet also provides information of 800 or 1500 Jewish victims who died in the burning synagogue ).

History

In the synagogue, the women lived together with the men in the service, albeit in separate halls that surrounded the main prayer hall on three sides. The church had a choir and an organ, and national holidays were in the interwar period there celebrated, at which these occasions, the synagogue was attended by municipal authorities such as the mayor or the governor of the region. The last official rabbi of Bialystok, Dr. Gedali Rozenman, agreed after the prayer and playing the Jewish anthem Hatikvah to the Polish national anthem Mazurek Dąbrowskiego.

The size of the synagogue and prestige drew Chasanim from all over Poland as well as from neighboring countries. During the Passover of 1934 provided 14 Jewish cantors of their services to the synagogue administration.

On the morning of June 27, 1941 surrounded by soldiers Police Battalion 309 the town square at the synagogue and forced residents from their homes on the street. Some were tried and shot on the walls of houses. Other, about 2000 men, women and children were included in the synagogue, which was set on fire shortly afterwards, and died in the flames. Then the soldiers threw grenades and shot houses with more people. On this day, approximately 2000 to 2200 Jews lost their lives.

According to statements from the Białystok memorial book as well many people opened the veins of her friends and neighbors, to spare them the ordeal. A young man who was not overwhelmed by the smoke climbed to a window in the chancel, where it broke windows and cursed the soldiers who witnessed the scene. He was shot and fell from the window, but survived. The Polish guard the synagogue was finally able to get into the building and open a side door, causing some Jews were able to escape, including the young man.

The memorial of the synagogue, which was built in August 1995 and is intended to mimic the shape of the destroyed dome is now part of the "Path of the Jewish heritage in Białystok " ( Szlak Dziedzictwa Zydowskiego w Białymstoku ).

Architecture

The synagogue had a ten -meter-high dome, also two decorative smaller domes on the sides or on the side halls. The large dome was supported by several pillars of steel and concrete. She combined different styles of architecture, but mainly a neo-Gothic and Byzantine style was used.