Chișinău Choral Synagogue
| Kishenev Choral Synagogue | |
|---|---|
 A postcard of the former synagogue in 1913 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Liberal Judaism (former) |
| Rite | Nusach Ashkenaz |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | |
| Status |
|
| Location | |
| Location | 75, Vlaicu Pircalab Street, Chișinău |
| Country | Moldova |
  Location of the synagogue in Moldova | |
| Geographic coordinates | 47°01′29″N 28°50′15″E / 47.02472°N 28.83750°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Synagogue architecture |
| Style | Moorish Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1904 |
| Completed | 1913 |
| Materials | Brick |
| [1] | |
The Chișinău Choral Synagogue (Hebrew: בית הכנסת הכוראלי של קישינב; Romanian: Sinagoga corală din Chișinău; Russian: Кишинёвская хоральная синагога) is a former Liberal Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at 75, Vlaicu Pircalab Street, in the city of Chișinău, in Moldova. It was once the most famous synagogue in the country. The building was repurposed as a theater in the 1950s.
History
[edit]Construction of the synagogue was completed in 1913 with funds from the local Jewish community[2] to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty.[3] Originally built for yeshiva students, it later became the main synagogue of Chișinău.[4]
The synagogue was affiliated with the liberal or progressive tradition in Judaism, as reflected by the synagogue's use of the term "Temple". During Soviet rule, the synagogue was placed under state control. In 1966, the building was reconstructed.[1]
Under the leadership of Rabbi Yehuda Leib Tsirelson, the synagogue and its yeshiva was one of the most well-known in Chișinău and earned renowned for its cantors. The synagogue and building were nationalized by the Soviet Union in 1940. After World War II, the building was rebuilt and repurposed into a theater named after Russian playwright Anton Chekhov.[4] According to Yosef Schatz, the theater's director in 2023, it was common for the Soviet Union to repurpose religious institutions like the synagogue.[2][4]
In 2023, the city of Chișinău placed a plaque at the theater, commemorating its former status as a synagogue, in remembrance of the 120th anniversary of the Kishinev pogrom. The theater is the main Russian theater in Moldova.[2]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Choral Synagogue in Chişinău". Historic Synagogues of Europe. Foundation for Jewish Heritage and the Center for Jewish Art at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. n.d. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
- ^ a b c Doks, Edward (August 30, 2023). "The theater in Moldova that was once a synagogue". Ynet News. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
- ^ "Former Chisinau Choral Synagogue". European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Chisinau. Building of Former Choral synagogue". JewishMemory.md. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Chișinău Choral Synagogue at Wikimedia Commons- Media related to "Anton Chekhov" National Theater of Chișinău at Wikimedia Commons
- "Jewish Heritage Sites and Monuments in Moldova" (PDF). JewishGen.
