Nożyk Synagogue
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The Nożyk Synagogue ( pl, Synagoga Nożyków) is the only surviving prewar Jewish house of prayer in
Warsaw Warsaw ( pl, Warszawa, ), officially the Capital City of Warsaw,, abbreviation: ''m.st. Warszawa'' is the capital and largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the River Vistula in east-central Poland, and its population is officia ...
, Poland. It was built in 1898-1902 and was restored after
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 ...
. It is still operational and currently houses the Warsaw Jewish Commune, as well as other Jewish organizations.


History

Before World War II the Jewish community of Warsaw, one of the largest Jewish communities in the world at that time, had over 400 houses of prayer at its disposal. However, at the end of 19th century only two of them were separate structures, while the rest were smaller chapels attached to schools, hospitals or private homes. The earliest Round Synagogue in the borough of
Praga Praga is a district of Warsaw, Poland. It is on the east bank of the river Vistula. First mentioned in 1432, until 1791 it formed a separate town with its own city charter. History The historical Praga was a small settlement located at ...
served the local community since 1839, while the Great Synagogue (erected in 1878) was built for the reformed community. Soon afterwards a need arose to build a temple also for the orthodox Jewry. Between 1898 and 1902 Zalman Nożyk, a renowned Warsaw merchant, and his wife Ryfka financed such temple at Twarda street, next to the neighbourhood of and
Grzybowski Square Grzybowski Square ( pl, Plac Grzybowski) is a triangular square in the Śródmieście (downtown) district of Warsaw, Poland, between Twarda, Bagno, Grzybowska and Królewska streets. History 17th to 20th centuries The square's history goes ...
. The building was designed by a famous Warsaw architect,
Karol Kozłowski Karol may refer to: Places * Karol, Gujarat, a village on Saurashtra peninsula in Gujarat, west India * Karol State, a former Rajput petty princely state with seat in the above town Film/TV *'' Karol: A Man Who Became Pope'', a 2005 miniseries *' ...
, designer of the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra Hall.Virtual Shtetl
The façade is neo-romanticist, with notable neo-Byzantine elements. The building itself is rectangular, with the internal chamber divided into three aisles. The synagogue was officially opened to the public on May 26, 1902. In 1914 the founders donated it to the Warsaw Jewish Commune, in exchange for yearly prayers in their intention. In 1923 the building was refurbished by
Maurycy Grodzieński Maurycy is a given name. Notable people with the name include: *Jan Maurycy Pawel Cardinal Puzyna de Kosielsko (1842–1911), Polish Roman Catholic Cardinal *Maurycy Beniowski or Maurice Benyovszky (1746–1786), explorer, colonizer, writer, chess ...
, who also designed a semi-circular choir that was attached to the eastern wall of the temple. In September 1939 the synagogue was damaged during an air raid. During World War II the area was part of the ''Small Ghetto'' and shared its fate during the Ghetto Uprising and then the liquidation of the Jewish community of Warsaw by the Nazis. After 1941 the Germans used the building as stables and a depot.


Restoration

After the war the demolished building was partially restored and returned to the Warsaw Jewish Commune, but the reconstruction did not start. It was completely rebuilt between 1977 and 1983 (officially opened April 18, 1983). It was also then that a new wing was added to the eastern wall, currently housing the seat of the commune, as well as several other Jewish organizations. Currently it is in use daily as both a place of worship as well as a place of gathering.


Notes


See also

*
Great Synagogue (Warsaw) The Great Synagogue of Warsaw ( pl, Wielka Synagoga w Warszawie) was one of the grandest synagogues constructed in Poland in the 19th century. At the time of its opening, it was the largest Jewish house of worship in the world. It was located on ...
*
Beit Warszawa Synagogue Beit Warszawa Synagogue is a liberal Jewish synagogue officially opened in 1999 in Warsaw. It operates as a full-fledged synagogue with regular events, including Friday night and Saturday morning prayers. Beit Warszawa is a member of Beit Polska ...


External links


Nożyk Synagogue in Warsaw
at Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Virtual Shtetl


Photo gallery

More pictures and a short description
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nozyk Synagogue Synagogues in Warsaw Orthodox synagogues in Poland Śródmieście, Warsaw Synagogues completed in 1902 1902 establishments in Poland Neoclassical architecture in Poland Renaissance Revival synagogues