Bjelovar Synagogue (''Izraelitički templ'') is a former synagogue in Bjelovar,

Croatia , image_flag = Flag of Croatia.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Croatia.svg , anthem = "Lijepa naša domovino"("Our Beautiful Homeland") , image_map = , map_caption = , capit ...

, which is currently a cultural center. The first Jewish temple in Bjelovar was built in 1882. During the years number of Jews in Bjelovar increased, so the current temple could no longer meet the needs of Jewish community Bjelovar. The idea of building the new synagogue dates to 1913, when general assembly of the Jewish community Bjelovar, under president Jaša Hržić, decided to build a new, large and attractive synagogue. At the time, around 500 Jews lived in Bjelovar. According to calculations the synagogue construction cost 160,000

Austro-Hungarian krone The crown (german: Krone, hu, korona, it, Corona, pl, korona, sl, krona, sh, kruna, cz, koruna, sk, koruna, ro, coroană) was the official currency of Austria-Hungary from 1892 (when it replaced the florin as part of the adoption of the ...

. Synagogue was designed by Hönigsberg & Deutsch architect Otto Goldscheider. Construction began in 1913, and in 1917 the

Art Nouveau Art Nouveau (; ) is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts. The style is known by different names in different languages: in German, in Italian, in Catalan, and also known as the Modern ...

Bjelovar Synagogue was completed. Bjelovar Synagogue was consecrated by Bjelovar

chief rabbi Chief Rabbi ( he, רב ראשי ''Rav Rashi'') is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities. Since 1911, through a ...

Samuel D. Tauber and Virovitica chief rabbi H. E. Kauffmann.

Torah The Torah (; hbo, ''Tōrā'', "Instruction", "Teaching" or "Law") is the compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, namely the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. In that sense, Torah means the s ...

transfer from the old synagogue to new took place on 15 August 1917. The rabbi was Lazar Margulies. During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, almost all Bjelovar Jews were killed during the

Holocaust The Holocaust, also known as the Shoah, was the genocide of European Jews during World War II. Between 1941 and 1945, Nazi Germany and its collaborators systematically murdered some six million Jews across German-occupied Europe; a ...

. The synagogue was robbed and left devastated. After the war, Bjelovar Synagogue was turned into a theater in 1951.

Dome A dome () is an architectural element similar to the hollow upper half of a sphere. There is significant overlap with the term cupola, which may also refer to a dome or a structure on top of a dome. The precise definition of a dome has been a m ...

s and religious characteristics on the synagogue were removed; only the

Star of David The Star of David (). is a generally recognized symbol of both Jewish identity and Judaism. Its shape is that of a hexagram: the compound of two equilateral triangles. A derivation of the ''seal of Solomon'', which was used for decorative ...

was left in the interior upper floor. Today, Bjelovar Synagogue serves as a home of culture.

Gallery

Image:Bjelovar Synagogue Torah transfer.jpg,

transfer from old synagogue to new Bjelovar Synagogue in 1917 Image:Bjelovar Dom kulture.JPG, Bjelovar Synagogue today as a home of culture

References

{{coord, 45, 54, 00, N, 16, 50, 38, E, region:HR-07_type:landmark_source:kolossus-hrwiki, display=title Ashkenazi Jewish culture in Croatia Ashkenazi synagogues Synagogues completed in 1917 Former synagogues in Croatia History of Bjelovar Art Nouveau synagogues Buildings and structures in Bjelovar-Bilogora County Art Nouveau architecture in Croatia Hönigsberg & Deutsch buildings