Esztergom Synagogue

Esztergom Synagogue
The former synagogue in 2006
Religion
AffiliationJudaism (former)
RiteNusach Ashkenaz
Ecclesiastical or organisational status
Status
  • Abandoned (as a synagogue);
  • Repurposed
Location
LocationGalamb utca / Imaház u. 2, Esztergom
CountryHungary
Esztergom Synagogue is located in Hungary
Esztergom Synagogue
Location of the former synagogue in Hungary
Geographic coordinates47°47′43″N 18°44′34″E / 47.79531880502225°N 18.74266268490207°E / 47.79531880502225; 18.74266268490207
Architecture
Architect(s)Lipót Baumhorn
TypeSynagogue architecture
StyleMoorish Revival
Date established16th century (as a congregation)
Groundbreaking1859
Completed
  • 1888 (original use)
  • 1964 and 2006 (renovations)
MaterialsBrick
[1]

The Esztergom Synagogue is a former Jewish congregation and synagogue, located in the town of Esztergom, Hungary. The synagogue was built in 1859, renovated in 1888,[2] and severely damaged by a bombing during World War II. Since almost all Jewish people in the town were deported during the Holocaust[3] and Communists subsequently gained control of the country, the building has not been used for religious purposes since the 1940s.[4][5][6]

The synagogue continued to deteriorate until 1962, when the city council bought it from the National Office of the Hungarian Israelites, according to contemporary historian, János Németh. It was later rebuilt and inaugurated as the House of Technology (Technika Háza) on September 28, 1964.[7] However, another source states that in 1981 it became the House of Technology after repair work was done between 1980 and 1981 that "involved a strong simplification of the exterior" and "a complete transformation of the interior."[8] Németh claims that many government members and skilled volunteers worked to rebuild Esztergom Synagogue between 1963 and 1964. On September 28, 1964, it was inaugurated as the House of Technology and became the home of the city's Organization of Technical and Natural Science Associations (MTESZ), which was founded on the same day.[7]

In 2006, it was bought by the municipality and used as a cultural center.[5]

  1. ^ "Synagogue in Esztergom". Historic synagogues of Europe. Foundation for Jewish Heritage and the Center for Jewish Art at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. n.d. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  2. ^ "The Jewish Community of Esztergom | BH Open Databases". Museum of The Jewish People - Beit Hatfutsot:'בית התפוצות - מוזיאון העם היהודי'. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  3. ^ "funiQ".
  4. ^ "Esztergomi zsinagóga - Esztergom - Esztergomi zsinagóga, Esztergom, Komárom_Esztergom, Közép_Dunántúl". utisugo.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Esztergom: Volt zsinagóga épülete". www.esztergom.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  6. ^ "Esztergom: Egy mór stílusú zsinagóga legendája". www.esztergom.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Esztergom: A tudomány nevében". www.esztergom.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  8. ^ "Zsinagóga (Technika háza), Esztergom". www.muemlekem.hu (in Hungarian). Retrieved April 22, 2020.