Beth Hamidraș Temple

Former synagogue in Bucharest, Romania

44°25′56″N 26°06′23″E / 44.4323°N 26.1063°E / 44.4323; 26.1063ArchitectureTypeSynagogue architectureStyleGothic RevivalDate established1781 (as a congregation)Completed1896MaterialsBrick^[1]

The Beth Hamidraș Temple, also known as the Old Beit Hamidrash (Romanian: Beyth Homidraş Vechi), is a former Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at 78 Calea Moșilor, in the Old Jewish District of Bucharest, Romania. Designed in the Gothic Revival style, the synagogue was completed in 1896.

History

Founded in 1781, the first wooden synagogue was completed in 1812, located in a building given by a Jewish woman; initially, it was named after her and her husband's name, Bet Hamidraș – Naftale and Taube Synagogue. The building was also known as the Bet Hamidraș Vechi (English: the Old Bet Hamidraș) or the Sinagoga de la Sfântu Gheorghe (English: the Synagogue at St. George).^[2] A replacement of the wooden synagogue was completed in 1896.^[1]

The synagogue was devastated by the far-right Legionaries in 1941. The building was "burnt while the believers were attending the religious service".^[3] It was burnt "when 23 faithful caught inside during the religious service were killed".^[4]

The synagogue was restored in 1947, however, the building has since been abandoned and repurposed as a warehouse.^[3]

Gallery

The former synagogue with Star of David, 2010
The former synagogue, 2011

References

^ ^a ^b "Old Beit Midrash (Beyth Homidraş Vechi) in Bucharest". Historic Synagogues of Europe. Foundation for Jewish Heritage and the Center for Jewish Art at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. n.d. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
^ "Bucharestian: The Jewish District from Dristor to Piata Unirii". Bucharestian.com.
^ ^a ^b Ciuciu, Anca (2010). Wiesel, Elie (ed.). "Revista Institutului Naţional pentru Studierea Holocaustului in România" [Images of Bucharest Pogrom (21st - 23rd January 1941), in Holocaust]. Studii şi cercetări (in Romanian). II (1 (3)). Bucharest: Institutul European: 37–57.
^ "The Jewish District from Dristor to Piata Unirii". Bucharestian. 9 September 2012.