(Click on images to ENLARGE) The historic Shul in Grodna has recently been purchased by the Chabad Shliach in the city. The cost of purchasing the building is reported to have been a whopping $1 Million.
The Great Shul of Grodno was founded in 1578 at the initiative of Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe, also known as Baal Ha-Levushim, who served the city’s approximately 2000 Jews at that time. The Italian architect, Santi Gucci, designed the Shul at Rabbi Yaffe’s invitation.
The original wooden building, located on Bolshaya Troitskaya Street, eventually burned down and a brick building was erected on the same site about 200 years ago. The first brick building erected in the neighborhood did not undergo any reconstruction until 1899, the year that Grodno experienced a huge fire. At that time, the Shul’s roof and façade were damaged. The Jewish community decided to rebuild it in 1902 and commenced construction in 1905.
The Shul was not greatly damaged during the 1917 revolution and remained the property of the Jewish community. From here, the Jewish community continued to run its elementary school.
During the centuries of its operation, the Shul had its own choir and a chazzan. At the time of its reconstruction, there were also two smaller Shul’s existing in the city.
During the occupation of Grodno by Nazi forces, the Shul was situated right in the heart of the Jewish ghetto. Tragically, it also served as the final stop for thousands of Jews, who were herded in the Shul before making their frightful way to the death camps.
After the War the building was used by Soviet authorities and was transformed into a food warehouse, pharmacy, book-depot, and arts workshop; the inside of the Shul was significantly altered. It served in these capacities until, at last, being returned to the Jewish community of Grodno in 1992. By that time, the structure had fallen into substantial disrepair with no running water and electricity.
The Shul is one of the most beautiful buildings in Grodno, and the Jewish community and its resident Rabbi Yitzhak Kofman are also planning to establish the Jewish Community Center within this building to serve the needs of the Jewish population of Grodno. The Shul and Jewish Community Center will also include a library, classrooms, a kosher kitchen and dining room, a mikvah and offices.
(Sources: COL & FJC)
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5 Responses
So if we understand this story correctly, Chabad just bought it from the Jewish community of Grodno, who obtained the property in 1992?
The “Jewish” community had it. It was given to them by the government & they did nothing with it. Came along this yungerman and his will bezras Hashem make something happen there Yiddishkayt wise.
I get a similar feeling when i see churches that were once shuls with Pesukim buit into the stone.
Trafene Baal Habos,
Boy that’s one sharp statement about Chabad.One thing you can’t dispute though, is that they’ll turn that place into a vibrant center of operations.
gee Trafene (efsher kishmo cain hu),
I didn’t think that the Satmar and Bobover Rebbes would patronize churches – oh, maybe, in your Trafene opinion, they’re not the real Rebbes!