Przysucha Synagogue

Background

At the end of the eighteenth century, the town of Przysucha was one of the most important centers of the Chassidic movement, a branch of Orthodox Judaism that focuses on mysticism. Seven great Chassidic rabbis are buried at the Jewish cemetery in Przysucha, which was established soon after Jewish settlers arrived to the area in 1713. Chassidim from all over the world come to visit these significant rabbis’ graves. Przysucha Synagogue, the largest extant baroque synagogue in Poland, was erected between 1764 and 1777. This massive limestone structure is situated in a large square in the center of the town. Its sanctuary is impressive, with a tall vaulted ceiling supported by a four-piered bimah at the center. While most of the interior decoration has been lost, the Torah ark and some of its decorative stuccowork has survived, as well as a few other painted surfaces. Przysucha’s Jewish community, which constituted over 60% of the town’s population before WWII, was completely lost during the Holocaust. Although the synagogue survived, it has been abandoned since then.

How We Helped

The Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Poland (FODZ) was given ownership of Przysucha Synagogue in 2007. At that time, the building was close to collapse and some essential emergency work was carried out in 2008. In May 2014, World Monuments Fund’s Jewish Heritage Program provided FODZ with support to help stabilize the synagogue’s exterior walls.

Why It Matters

While Przysucha Synagogue no longer has a Jewish community, it has exceptional historical and artistic value as one of the few and also the largest surviving baroque synagogue in Poland, and the religious home of one of the most significant centers of Chassidism during the movement’s early years. Currently, the state of the synagogue limits access to the sanctuary. Once stabilized, it will be safe for groups to visit and utilize the building for meetings and conferences regarding the history and future of Chassidism.