Great Synagogue Of Danzig (1887 1939)
54 20 '53 "N 18 38' 51" E / 54.3481, 18.6476
Great Synagogue of Danzig (Polish: Wielka Synagoga) (in German: Neue Synagogue) is the largest synagogue in the city until its destruction by the Nazi authorities in 1939. Built between 1885 and 1887 , Danzig belonged to the German Empire. Become " free city "after the First World War , then annexed to the German Reich in 1939 , Danzig again became a city in Polish after the Second World War under the name of Gdansk.
Summary |
Throughout the period of domination of Polish kings in the city, the Jews are banned from the city, or only allowed to penetrate for a very limited time to do their business. No Jewish community can not be created before the annexation of the city by Prussia in 1793.
Before the First World War, under the German Empire, the Jewish community of Danzig is very similar to all Jewish communities in Germany. The Jews consider themselves as "Germans of Mosaic faith" and reject the arguments overwhelmingly Zionist. Jews play a role in the economy of the city, mainly in trade and finance , much more important than their numerical weight. In 1910 , the Jewish community has only 2390 members is only 1.4% of the population of the city total.
After the First World War, many Jews from West Prussia under Polish rule took refuge in the Free City of Danzig. In 1929 , the number of Jewish inhabitants amounted to 10,448.
Description of the synagogue
The synagogue is located in the Reitbahnstrae now Boguslawski Street.
It is built in Arabo- Byzantine , typical of the majority of synagogues built in Germany at that time. An elongated rectangular shape, it is one of the most distinctive monuments of Gdansk, with its large dome , its two towers and lantern -lit night. In the middle of the main body a large stained glass window shows a Star of David , and each arrow is topped by a Star of David in wrought iron.
The spacious interior is topped by a cupola on pendants, from which hang enormous chandeliers. The main room is located under the dome. The Holy Ark (Aron Kodesh) is on a pedestal behind the curtain (parokhet) in an apse. Above the Ark, the Tablets of the Law (Decalogue) are supported by two lions in stone. Is located behind the organ and choir of 100 people. The altar ( bimah ) is behind the pedestal.
More than 2000 people can attend the service. Two rows of seats can accommodate 1,600 people in the main room. Of galleries to arcade massive supported by many pillars , surrounded on three sides by the great hall, to receive over 300 women. The walls are decorated with motifs of plants , geometric symbols and verses from the Bible. The entire synagogue is heated and lit electrically , which is still uncommon in the late nineteenth century.
History of the Synagogue
The beginnings
The Great Synagogue is funded by the five communities Reformed Danzig. It is built by a company from Berlin , Ende and Boeckman, selected by the community council.
The official dedication ceremony took place on 15 September 1887 , celebrated by the rabbi of Danzig, Kossman Werner, attended by the city council and representatives of other faiths. The Torah scrolls are carried from the Old Synagogue of Danzig and two other synagogues and placed in the Holy Ark and Eternal Light is lit. Great Synagogue became the meeting place for Jews reformed Danzig.
In the early twentieth century , the synagogue is one of the most active center of Reform Judaism. A great museum of Judaism contains many treasures old and rare, especially the collection of Lesser Giedziski. Many concerts are given within its walls, and the synagogue became a conference center where tributary rabbis and teachers in many countries.
The rise of anti-Semitism
The 1920s , saw the rise of antisemitism and the Nazi party in Germany. Danzig is closely linked to Germany, despite its official separation agreed at the Treaty of Versailles (1919) , and becomes a dangerous city for Jews, especially after the elections of March 1933 , won by the Nazi party who then headed the city. Shortly after the synagogue been two attempts to fire. These fires have been extinguished quickly by a militia formed by the local Jewish population to protect the building.
While the constitution of the Free City of Danzig of Danzig Jews assures greater protection to the Jews of Germany, supporters Nazis invade the synagogue in August 1938 and trample the Torah scrolls. The community leaders decide to implement some security treasures and archives of the synagogue. The archives are sent to Jerusalem , the library in Vilnius , and the museum in the United States. At the same time, the tax burden on the community becoming such, the synagogue is forced to sell his organs to Krakow , Warsaw chandeliers and benches to Nowy Port.
The culmination of threats is the night of 12 to 13 November 1938, extending the pogroms of Kristallnacht , which took place in the Reich German on the night of 9 to 10 November. As in Germany, the SA vandalize and plunder of shops and houses belonging to Jews. The synagogues of the nearby towns of Langfuhr and Sopot are burned. The Great Synagogue was spared only because of the care taken by Jewish veterans of the Great War.
Within days, more than 1,500 Jews flee to neighboring Poland.
The end of the Great Synagogue
This is not enough, and early 1939 , the Jewish community is forced to sell the synagogue to the senate of Danzig. On 15 April 1939 on the last office and soon after, the senate took control of the building. A large banner hangs on the gates of the building with the text:
"Komm lieber und mache von Juden in May each jetz frei"
(Come, dear May, and now we release the Jews).
On May 2 , 1939, the city government, dominated by the Nazis, began the destruction of the synagogue.
The end of the Jewish community
The majority of Jews living in Danzig flees the city and early 1939, it remains less than 1200 on the 12,000 Jews that had the community before the Nazis came to power.
After the invasion of Poland by the Germans on September 1, 1939, Nazi troops entered the city, wiping out all resistance and annexing Danzig to the German Reich. During the Second World War, the majority of the remaining Jews in Danzig were deported and perished during the Holocaust.
After the war, Danzig is transferred to Poland and was renamed Gdansk. The few surviving Jews emigrated mostly to Israel , and some to the United States.
The site of the synagogue is vacant. Part of the land belongs to the Jewish community in Gdansk, while another part is owned by the Urzd Ochrony Pastwa (Office for State Protection) and the rest is planned to build a theater.
There is no realistic plan for the reconstruction of a synagogue.
See also
References
- (In) This article is partially or entirely from the article in English entitled " Great Synagogue (Danzig) "(see the list of authors )
- pl: ydzi Pomorzu na (The Jews in Pomerania)
External Links
- pl: Wielka Synagoga - history and photos.
- in: Great Synagogue - Recent photographs of the remains of the synagogue.
- in: [1] - History of the Jewish community of Danzig.
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