Uzhhorod synagogue

The Orthodox synagogue in Uzhhorod was opened by the Ashkenazi Jewish community on July 27, 1904, without any celebrations: at 7 o'clock in the evening, the holy books of the Jews, the Torah, were transferred from the house of worship to the new synagogue; a prayer service and the consecration of the building followed. The authors of the Neo-Moorish-style project were the architects Ferenc Szabolcs and Dyula Papp. At that time, the city of Uzhhorod was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the city authorities donated a very valuable plot of land on the banks of the Uzh River to fulfill the dream of the Jewish community of Transcarpathia to build a synagogue. The site was located a few hundred meters from the city's leading landmarks: the Cathedral and Uzhhorod Castle.

The estimate for the work was 200,000 crowns: central heating, electric lighting, water supply, and sewerage were to be installed. It was the first reinforced concrete building in Uzhhorod. The construction itself was funded both by wealthy Jewish patrons and by the entire community. According to the project, the synagogue could accommodate 900 people.

The synagogue was built in the then fashionable Neo-Moorish style with money from wealthy Jewish patrons. The building of pink marble, lined with red ceramic tiles and decorative bricks, stood out in the architectural style of Uzhhorod. A striking element of the synagogue was the image of the Star of David on the central balcony of the building's facade. The roof was especially pompously decorated: Neo-Moorish motifs were emphasized by copper ornaments and figured towers. The building was crowned with symbols of the Tablets of the Covenant.

The names of the craftsmen who built the synagogue are still preserved: The foundation work, masonry, stone carving, carpentry, locksmithing, and roofing were performed under the supervision of engineer Adolf Hadinger (Hungarian: Hadinger Adolf); the altar was made by Mayböhm J. (Hungarian: Mayböhm J.). Mayböhm J.) and his son; stained glass works were done by Miksa Róth; interior painting by Géza Fényi; mosaic works by Péter Meloccó; and ceramics by Hahn J.

Although the building survived the destruction of Jewish sacred buildings during World War II, German and Hungarian troops used the synagogue as a stable in the last years of the war: the building was in a deplorable state-the building had a large crack, groundwater washed away the foundation, and the walls were collapsing.

In 1944, after the destruction of the Transcarpathian Jews, the fate of the synagogue changed. In 1947, the Soviet government gave the synagogue to the Ministry of Culture of the USSR, where the Philharmonic was founded. The building was rebuilt in accordance with the requirements for such cultural objects. The Star of David was covered by a wall with a tiny window. All Moorish decorations and turrets were removed from the roof. The exterior of the building became much more modest. The changes also affected the interior of the building. Due to the alterations, the acoustics were completely destroyed. Later, an organ was installed inside the building. Thus, the synagogue became the Uzhhorod Philharmonic, and today it is the main concert hall of Uzhhorod. It houses the Transcarpathian Regional Philharmonic and a folk choir.

In 1974, a three-story Philharmonic building was added next to it, which houses a small hall with 360 seats, rehearsal rooms, and other facilities. The building of the former rabbinate has also been preserved, and today it houses a bank branch.

In the 1990s, it was renovated, although the work performed was not of high quality. For many years, the Jewish community of Uzhhorod has been engaged in a dialog with the authorities about returning the building to the Jewish community. In addition, there is another synagogue in the city, the Eichal-Aaron Synagogue, which belongs to the city's Jewish community.

The synagogue was built in the Neo-Moorish style, a romantic style that incorporated Byzantine and Arab-Moroccan motifs. The building itself stood on a pink marble plinth, its walls were lined with decorative clinker bricks and red ceramic tiles, and the window portal was decorated with red artificial marble. A striking element of the building's façade was the central balcony with the image of the Star of David inscribed in a large circle. One of the inscriptions reads: "Built in 5694 according to the Jewish calendar". The roof of the building was particularly lavishly decorated: Moorish motifs were emphasized by clay figured roof towers, various copper decorations, and ornaments. The building was crowned with symbolic Tablets of the Covenant.

In the postwar years, the Soviet authorities reconstructed the building and its exterior underwent dramatic changes: The recess in the central pediment with a balcony and a large Star of David was covered by a wall with a round window in the middle; the roof of the building was completely changed; the transparent mosaic dome through which the sun illuminated the entire building was covered with tin; all pseudo-Moorish decorations were removed from the roof; the turrets were replaced by simpler columns; the tablets were removed from the roof, and a lyre, a symbol of musical art, was put in their place. In general, the appearance of the building became much more modest.

Radical changes also affected the interior of the building: all interior changes were made in accordance with the requirements for such cultural objects. Prior to the reconstruction, the synagogue was a one-story building with traditional balconies for women; afterwards, the building was divided into two floors according to the level of the balconies, which destroyed the unique acoustics of the building. The first floor has a lobby, and the second floor has a hall with 830 seats and a stage. A staircase leading to the second floor was built on the site of the synagogue's main place, the ritual cabinet where Torah scrolls and other holy books are kept. Toilets were installed on the sides of the stairs.

Later, the Philharmonic installed an organ with three keyboards, one of the best in Ukraine, with three keyboards and 2,250 pipes. The old organ was brought from the Baltics, having been previously repaired in Prague. Another change was the demolition of the fence that enclosed the synagogue courtyard.

It is known that in the early twenty-first century cracks appeared on the facade. In the summer of 2011, design and estimate documentation for restoration work was prepared, but no funds were allocated at that time. Today, well-known musicians and bands continue to give concerts here, so art lovers have the opportunity to plunge into the whirlpool of classical music and chamber atmosphere. According to experts, there are no analogues of the majestic building in Europe, so Jews from all over the world come here to admire the architectural work of art and feel its ancient spirit. It was even suggested that the synagogue be dismantled brick by brick and taken to Israel to be reconstructed there.

The former Choral Synagogue in Uzhhorod is now a cultural institution (Transcarpathian Regional Philharmonic), considered a masterpiece of Jewish sacred construction of the early twentieth century, and is a local architectural monument. In general, this synagogue is the most interesting in the region from an artistic point of view. Many synagogues have survived in the towns of Transcarpathia, mostly rebuilt and adapted for other functions, but there are no such powerful or ancient structures as in the Lviv or Ternopil regions. The unique wooden synagogue in the village of Velyki Komyaty is interesting.