Great Synagogue (Piotrków Trybunalski)

The Great Synagogue in Piotrków Trybunalski, (Polish: Wielka Synagoga w Piotrkowie Trybunalskim), was built between 1791-1793 and designed by David Friedlander. The synagogue was devastated by Nazis during World War II. After the war, the building was renovated and it now serves as a library.

For similarly named synagogues, see Great Synagogue.
Great Synagogue of Piotrków Trybunalski
Newly restored synagogue
Religion
AffiliationOrthodox Judaism
StatusLibrary
Location
Location Piotrków Trybunalski, Poland
Geographic coordinates51°24′34″N 19°42′06″E
Architecture
Architect(s)David Friedlander
Groundbreaking1791
Completed1793

Although plundered during World War II, it is the best preserved synagogue in the Łódź region and one of the best preserved in Poland.

Background

Kazimierz Stronczynski who in 1844-55 led the first official inventory of important buildings in Poland, titled A General View of the Nature of Ancient Monuments in the Kingdom of Poland, describes the Great Synagogue of Piotrków as one of Poland's architecturally notable buildings.[1][2]

World War II

On the front wall there is a commemorative plaque in Polish, Hebrew, Yiddish, and English, which reads:

"This building, once 'The Great Synagogue,' and this plaque, sanctify the memory of Piotrkow Jews murdered by the Nazis during 1939 - 1945.
Remembrance and restoration project in memory of the Holocaust martyrs and the departed of our Jewish community and in memory of the Great Tzadik Rabbi Dr. Hayim David Bernard."

Renovation

In 2012 the synagogue was restored. The façade was repainted according to its original appearance before World War II.

References
  1. Maria and Kazimierz Piechotka, Heaven's Gates; Wooden synagogues in the Territories of the Former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Wydawnictwo Krupski i S-ka, Warsaw, 2004, p. 174.
  2. Kolejne pieniądze na piotrkowską kulturę Archived 2014-08-01 at the Wayback Machine (26.02.07) – Urzad Miasta, Piotrków Trybunalski.
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