Moscow Choral Synagogue
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Moscow Choral Synagogue Mocковская хopaльнaя синaгoга |
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| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Location |  Moscow, Russia |
| Religious affiliation | Orthodox Judaism |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | Semyon Eibuschitz (design) Roman Klein (completion) |
| Architectural style | Eclecticism |
| Year completed | 1906 |
| Specifications | |
The Moscow Choral Synagogue (Russian: Московская Хopaльнaя Cинaгoга) is the main synagogue in Russia and in the former Soviet Union. It is located in central Basmanny District at 12, Bolshoy Spasogolinischevsky Lane, close to Kitai-Gorod Metro station.
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[edit] History
The synagogue is placed close to former Jewish settlement in Zaryadye. According to its official site, the city authorities banned synagogue construction inside Kitai-gorod, thus the synagogue emerged one block east from its walls. In 1881, the community hired architect Semyon Eibuschitz, an Austrian citizen working in Moscow; his 1881 draft was not permitted by authorities. Second draft, also by Eybuschitz, was approved in July, 1886; construction was launched on May 28, 1887. In 1888, city intervened again, and required the builders to remove the completed dome and the exterior image of Scrolls of Moses. Construction dragged for five years, until the authorities banned it in 1892, giving two choices - sell the unfinished building or convert it into a charity.
During the Russian Revolution of 1905, the government was forced to lift all bans on worship; Jews, Old Believers and other minority confessions were free to build their places of worship anywhere. Eybuschitz died in 1898, thus, the community hired famous architect Roman Klein to finish the construction; the synagogue opened in 1906. It operated throughout the Soviet period, however, at least twice (1923, 1960) authorities annexed parts of original building for secular purposes.
In September, 1948, Golda Meir, the first ambassador of Israel in Soviet Union, paid an unauthorized visit to the synagogue, enraging the Soviet government [1]. The synagogue was restored recently. It is also known for the famous choir of Michael Turetsky.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- (Russian) History, the Jewish Congress
- (Russian) Official site of the Moscow Choral Synagogue
[edit] References
- Улицкий, Е.Н., "История Московской еврейской общины: Документы и материалы (XVIII - начало ХХ в.)", М, КРПА ОЛИМП, 2006
- Лобовская, М.И., "История Московской хоральной синагоги", М, Дом еврейской книги, 2006
