The Tykocin Synagogue is a historic synagogue building in

Tykocin Tykocin is a small town in north-eastern Poland, with 2,010 inhabitants (2012), located on the Narew river, in Białystok County in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. It is one of the oldest towns in the region, with its historic center designated a His ...

, Poland. The synagogue, in

mannerist Mannerism, which may also be known as Late Renaissance, is a style in European art that emerged in the later years of the Italian High Renaissance around 1520, spreading by about 1530 and lasting until about the end of the 16th century in Ita ...

-early Baroque style, was built in 1642.

History

During the Nazi occupation of Poland in 1941, the synagogue was desecrated and then set up as a warehouse. After the end of the war, it remained in use as a warehouse for fertilizers. In 1965, a fire damaged the interiors. The synagogue was thoroughly restored in the late 1970s. The historic wall paintings, most of which are decorative texts of Hebrew prayers, were restored. The elaborate, decorative ceiling was not reconstructed although some idea of the style can be gleaned from the design of the

Torah Ark A Torah ark (also known as the ''Heikhal'', or the ''Aron Kodesh'') refers to an ornamental chamber in the synagogue that houses the Torah scrolls. History The ark, also known as the ''ark of law'', or in Hebrew the ''Aron Kodesh'' or ''aron ha- ...

. A former Beit Medrash (study and prayer hall) located across the street has been restored and is in use as a city museum. Although no Jews now live in Tykocin, 40,000 tourists a year come to see the old synagogue, which remains "in lonely and unexpected splendor". The tourism has generated economic activity, including a cafe serving "Jewish-style" food and a bed-and-breakfast.

Gallery

File:Tykocin Great Synagogue 02.jpg File:2013 Interior of the Great Synagogue in Tykocin - 09.jpg File:2013 Interior of the Great Synagogue in Tykocin - 12.jpg, Bimah File:2013 Interior of the Great Synagogue in Tykocin - 34.jpg File:Tykocin July 2013 074.JPG, Ceiling File:2013 Interior of the Great Synagogue in Tykocin - 43.jpg File:2013 Interior of the Great Synagogue in Tykocin - 57.jpg,

Tallit A tallit ''talit'' in Modern Hebrew; ''tālēt'' in Sephardic Hebrew and Ladino; ''tallis'' in Ashkenazic Hebrew and Yiddish. Mish. pl. טליות ''telayot''; Heb. pl. טליתות ''tallitot'' , Yidd. pl. טליתים ''talleisim''. is a f ...

File:2013 Interior of the Great Synagogue in Tykocin - 54.jpg, Tallit and

Hanukiah A Hanukkah menorah, or hanukkiah,Also called a chanukiah ( he, מנורת חנוכה ''menorat ḥanukkah'', pl. ''menorot''; also he, חַנֻכִּיָּה ''ḥanukkiyah'', or ''chanukkiyah'', pl. ''ḥanukkiyot''/''chanukkiyot'', or yi, ח ...

File:2013 Interior of the Great Synagogue in Tykocin - 01.jpg,

Torah ark A Torah ark (also known as the ''Heikhal'', or the ''Aron Kodesh'') refers to an ornamental chamber in the synagogue that houses the Torah scrolls. History The ark, also known as the ''ark of law'', or in Hebrew the ''Aron Kodesh'' or ''aron ha- ...

File:2013 Interior of the Great Synagogue in Tykocin - 02.jpg, Torah ark closeup File:Tykocin Great Synagogue 14.jpg File:Tykocin Great Synagogue 19.jpg File:Tykocin synagogue fc02.jpg

External links

Tykocin Synagogue photos

Great Synagogue of Tykocin in the Bezalel Narkiss Index of Jewish Art

References

{{Jews and Judaism in Poland Former synagogues in Poland Jewish museums in Poland Religious buildings and structures completed in 1642 Jewish Polish history Baroque synagogues in Poland 17th-century synagogues Synagogues preserved as museums Białystok County Buildings and structures in Podlaskie Voivodeship Museums in Podlaskie Voivodeship 1642 establishments in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Mannerist architecture in Poland

History

Gallery

See also

External links

References