Synagogue (Rijeka)
The Rijeka Synagogue is one of three synagogues in Croatia that survived World War II undamaged. After a necessary overall restoration , the synagogue was officially opened in 2008. The synagogue is the center of the Rijeka Jewish community and the Jewish faith in the Croatian port city of Rijeka. It is an important cultural monument of the city of Rijeka .
history
The Rijeka Synagogue was built on the initiative of the Association of Orthodox Israelites in 1930. The construction plans came from the architects G. Angyala and P. Fabra. According to the architectural style, few decorations and symbols were attached to the outer front of the synagogue. The style epoch of modernity impresses with its simple architectural lines with influences of the Mediterranean architectural style. Its exterior impresses with the symbiosis and coloring of the stone complex and the bricks used in the construction. In the interior of the synagogue there is an anteroom and the worship room, which is divided into three sections. There are three windows each on the sides of the church and on the balcony for the women, with their own entrance to the church. In Croatia there were a total of 79 synagogues, 23 of which were fully functional. Nowadays, in addition to the synagogue in Rijeka, the synagogues in Split and Dubrovnik have been preserved in their original function. The preserved and renovated Rijeka Synagogue is located on Filipović Street.
A larger synagogue was located at the intersection of Cambierieve, Capuchin Square and Zagrad Street in the center of Rijeka. It was built in 1903. At the time, the Rijeka Jewish Community had 2,500 members. It was destroyed by the Nazis in 1944.
restoration
In 1993 the restoration of the Rijeka synagogue began. There were defects on the roof. The Rijeka city administration took over the financing of the roof. This stopped the decay of the entire property. The burial chapel in connection with the Kozali Jewish cemetery was also renovated by the city administration. The synagogue, as a cultural monument and cultural asset , was restored by the Department of Monument Preservation of the City of Rijeka after an elaboration and a thorough examination of the overall renovation. The project financed the city of Rijeka. In 2004 the sacred part of the synagogue was first renewed, as this area of the synagogue represents the headquarters of the Jewish community and is where the religious community life takes place. Then the outer facade and the synagogue forecourt were renewed. In 2007 and 2008, the design of the synagogue forecourt, the community rooms and the balcony was completed.
opening
When the synagogue reopened in 2008, the chairman of the Rijeka Jewish Community, Vlado Kon, said : "It was not just the structural and political system that made the restoration possible. There was also a lot of enthusiasm among individuals who brought in more than they could . This synagogue is not only a place of faith and prayer, it is here that the entire life of the Jewish community of Rijeka takes place. "
Web links
- Rijeka Synagogue, on the official website of the city of Rijeka (Croatian)
- Photo of the interior, on the official website of the city of Rijeka
Coordinates: 45 ° 19 ′ 52.1 ″ N , 14 ° 26 ′ 3.1 ″ E