Görlitz Synagogue

The Jewish community in Görlitz grew from 150 residents in 1852 to 643 residents in 1880. The Old Synagogue (Langenstrasse) in the historic part of the town (which still stands and is used as a house of literature) became too small for the growing Jewish community. The architects William Lossow and Hans Max Kühne (famous for designing the main train station in Leipzig) made architectural plans for the new synagogue in Görlitz. They chose Art Nouveau as the leading style of the building, which differed from the more oriental-looking style of synagogues of that time. After two years' construction, the synagogue was opened on March 7, 1911.

From 1933 to 1945 under the reign of Nazi Germany, Jews fled Görlitz and/or were deported. The synagogue survived Kristallnacht in November 9, 1938 without major structural damage. The arson attack was foiled - the fire extinguished by the fire department before any severe damage was done to the building's structure. The final religious service took place in September 1940. With no Jews remaining in the town, the synagogue was left unused.

After World War II, the Soviet military administration transferred ownership to the nearby Jewish community in Dresden. The small community in Dresden couldn't afford the maintenance costs of the building and sold it back to the Görlitz city administration in 1963.

After German reunification, funds were raised and efforts undertaken to save the building from collapse. The restoration between 1991 and 2020 cost approximately 10 million Euros.

The synagogue is in fact two synagogues: the Kuppelsaal, originally with room for about 550 worshippers, has been restored to accommodate 310 visitors; and the Wochentags-Synagogue, with room for approximately 50 worshippers. The city council has decided that the Wochentags-Synagogue will be retained for Jewish worship.

There remains no large Jewish community in Görlitz that would require full use of the synagogue, and as such the synagogue will be used for tours to show the Jewish history of Görlitz and can be booked for events and conferences.

The 70th anniversary of the Kristallnacht pogrom was commemorated by the Görlitz City Council, through the synagogue support group Förderkreis Görlitzer Synagoge, e. V., on November 9, 2008.

The Magen David on the roof of the synagogue was broken off and destroyed in Kristallnacht. After selling the building to the city administration the building was not consecrated anymore. The plans for restoration made in the early 90s did not intend to re-install the Magen David. With an open letter of the society for promoting the synagogue (Förderkreis Görlitzer Synagoge e.V.) in mid 2020 the discussions about re-installing the Magen David began again.[1] [2]

For several years the Jewish community in Dresden declined the re-installation. This opinion has changed in 2017. Both the city administration and the Jewish community now support the idea of a new Magen David.[3]

Because of roof refurbishment that took place in the 1990's before opinion shifted, there wasn't structural support present to install the Magen David. Structural engineers will be commissioned to find a proper solution.[4]

• Görlitz Synagogue Images
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  Synagogue Portal
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  Synagogue Entrance
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  Synagogue Dome
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  Görlitz Synagogue, 1912
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  Dome Hall
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  Detail of golden lions
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  Torah Shrine
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  Wochentags-Synagogue