Moscow Choral Synagogue: Description of the Sight

There are five synagogues in the Russian capital. All of them are beautiful and original in their own way. But the Moscow Choral Synagogue is special. It is the oldest and largest of all the Jewish temples of the city. The main rabbinate of the country is located here. And here the Jewish children's home and the yeshiva religious school operate.

Why is the synagogue called choral? This is another feature of the temple. During the prayers of prayer, a small chorus of professional cantors sings. Visit the Moscow Choral Synagogue will be interesting not for Jews. The rich interior decoration of this prayer house is striking. Also interesting is the cathedral and outside. Its facade is somewhat like a museum, because its classical columns adorn it. And the dome gives the synagogue a similarity with the Orthodox church. Only his crown is not the cross, but the star of David. The halls are like a Catholic cathedral. What, in fact, is this synagogue? Why is it so interesting? Read about this in our article.

Moscow Choral Synagogue: the address, how to get there

This is the main Jewish temple on Ivanovskaya Gorka, in the Basmanny district of the capital. From a small elevation, beautiful views are opened. Therefore, the temple has another name - "synagogue on the hill." The exact address of the prayer house is Bolshaya Spasoglinischevsky lane, 10. By the large silver dome and the columns that adorn the entrance, you can not immediately determine that the Moscow Choral Synagogue is before you. How to get to the place, you can tell the locals. It's very close, literally two hundred meters from the metro station "Kitai-Gorod". You can get to the synagogue from the "South-Western" station. But the first option is better. It should be, leaving the metro station "Kitai Gorod", go in the direction opposite to the Ilinsky Square . The large Spasoglinischevsky lane, where the synagogue is located, is parallel to the Lubyanka Passage, on which the metro station and ground transportation stops are located.

History of the Jewish community in Moscow

The capital of Russia has long been inhabited by people of different nationalities and religions. But the Tsar-reformer Alexander II allowed Jews to live and work in Moscow only. Therefore, they began to settle here only from the second half of the nineteenth century. Near the place where the Moscow Choral Synagogue is now located, in Zaryadye, on Glebovsky Compound, there was a cheap hotel, as they say, the hostel. Jewish merchants who came to the capital on business there liked to settle there. After the withdrawal of the Pale of Settlement, Alexander II, this area gradually turned into a ghetto. The number of the Jewish community has become so large that it would be better to think about building a prayer house.

Peripetias in connection with the construction of the synagogue

A petition was submitted for the construction of the Jewish temple and permission was obtained. Architect S. Eybushitts developed the project of the building. The chairman of the community L. Polyakov purchased a land plot for him. May 28, 1887 was laid foundation of the temple. It is known that in the eastern wall there is an ampoule with a letter about this event. The building itself was built in 1891.

It seemed that everything was going well, as the unforeseen happened - the tsar-reformer was killed. Following this, persecution of Jews began, the Pale of Settlement was again introduced. And then there was an incident with the Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich. He took the dome of the synagogue for the head of the Orthodox Church and crossed himself. Then he realized his mistake and became furious. Jews were demanded to remove the dome, because it "offends the feelings of believers."

The community went for it - in fact synagogues do not have architectural canons. But it did not help either. The Ober-Procurator of the Holy Synod Pobedonostsev demanded to take pictures of the Mosaic tablets from the pediment. Then the Moscow Choral Synagogue was completely sealed.

Short "Thaw"

Again to conduct worship services to the Jews were allowed only after the Manifesto of 1905, which permits freedom of religion. The building of the prayer house by that time had come to a significant decline. After all, it housed a real school. But the Moscow Choral Synagogue has become even more beautiful than the efforts of the architect Roman Klein, who trained at the famous Garnier, the author of the Paris Opera. It was from him that he borrowed the idea of retrospectivism. Light freely penetrates through the large oblong windows.

But this beautiful building in the eclectic style functioned as a synagogue for a short time. Already in 1922 the Soviet government banned worship services. The building was settled by "Textilstroy". A part of the building was used by the Moscow underground for a reserve mine.

Modern look

In 2001, the Russian Jewish Congress and the Moscow community, under the patronage of Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, began the reconstruction of the church. This project worth more than $ 20 million included the construction of an orphanage, a yeshiva, a community center. The silver dome was restored. Near the temple was opened the composition "Bird of Happiness" (sculptor I. Burganov). The hand that produces the pigeon is complemented by a symbolic little Wailing Wall made of crushed stone.

The Moscow Choral Synagogue itself - a photo it demonstrates - is a domed building resembling a basilica. There are four prayer halls in it. High vaults, columns and rich decoration immediately create a cheerful and solemn mood for the visitor. Particularly beautiful is the ceiling, decorated with carved ornaments. The main nave is adorned with the tree of Knowledge and Life. Striking is the snow-white Aron Kodesh, concealing the precious Torah scrolls behind the velvet curtain.

Moscow Choral Synagogue: Opening Hours

Non-Jews can come to the prayer temple, but they are allowed only to the gallery of the second floor. But from the height you can better consider the decor of the temple. During the services, photo and video are prohibited. From Monday to Friday, the morning minyan passes at 8:30, on Saturdays and holidays - at nine. The synagogue is open from morning till evening. After all, she has an orphanage, a religious school, a kosher restaurant, a library, and public clubs. This is the spiritual and cultural center of the Jewish community of Moscow.