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Zabłudów Synagogue
Zabłudów Synagogue
	The former wooden synagogue, 1895
Religion
Affiliation	Orthodox Judaism (former)
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Synagogue (c. 1640–1941)
Status	Destroyed
Location
Location	Zabłudów, Podlaskie Voivodeship
Country	Poland
	Location of the destroyed synagogue; in Podlaskie Voivodeship
Geographic coordinates	53°00′57″N 23°20′04″E / 53.0159°N 23.3345°E
Architecture
Architect(s)	Janusz Radziwiłł
Type	Synagogue architecture
Style	Wooden synagogue
General contractor	Janusz Radziwiłł
Completed	c. 1640
Destroyed	June 24 1941
Specifications
Length	11.3 m (37 ft)
Width	11.7 m (38 ft)
Height (max)	9.75 m (32.0 ft)
Materials	Timber

The Zabłudów Synagogue was a former Orthodox Jewish congregation and wooden synagogue, located in Zabłudów, in the Podlaskie Voivodeship of Poland. Completed in c. 1640, the synagogue served as a house of prayer until World War II when it was destroyed by Nazis in June 1941. The synagogue was burned to the ground by the German occupying authorities immediately after their conquest of the town.^[2]

History

In the 17th century the town was owned by the Radziwiłł family. In 1635 permission was granted by Krzysztof Radziwiłł for the construction of the synagogue. Most likely this was built by his son Janusz Radziwiłł in 1640. Over the years it was permanently extended and altered. The last alterations took place between 1895 and 1923. It was burnt down by German soldiers in the first days of the invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941.

A replica of the Zabłudów synagogue was made in 2004 at the University of Wisconsin in the course study.^[3]

Architecture

The main hall was built of horizontal timbers and was nearly square in plan, or 11.3 m × 11.7 m (37 ft × 38 ft). The walls had a height of 6.5 m (21 ft); the height to the most elevated point of the barrel vault was 9.75 m (32.0 ft). Originally the main hall would have been lit by eight two-light windows, 2 in each wall. Following addition of a women's prayer room on the upper level, the west windows were removed. Already in 1646 it had been decided to build a women's room at ground level. In later years, two corner pavilions were added. In 1765 restoration of the entire building was undertaken and at the beginning of the 18th century the vestibule was enlarged and a women's room was constructed above it. The shape of the roof was altered several times.

The Holy Ark was elevated on two levels and composed of elements of varied artistic and material quality.

The Bimah was an octagonal little building-chapel with two porches over the stairs. It was located near the entrance.

Gallery

Zabłudów Synagogue
Bimah

References

^ Lifshitz, Michael (2017) [1925]. "Synagogue in Zabłudow". Virtual Shtetl. Warsaw: POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
^ Piechotka, Maria; Piechotka, Kazimierz. Heaven’s Gates. Wooden synagogues in the territories of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Polish Institute of World Art Studies. p. 549 ff.
^ "Zabludow Synagogue Project". Handshouse Studio. Milwaukee: University of Wisconsin.