Maharam's Synagogue
Encyclopedia
Maharam's Synagogue was a synagogue
in Lublin
, Poland
, which was located on a no longer existing Jateczna 3 Street. The synagogue was a part of synagogical complex in Podzamcze.
, Meir Lublin
, who was also referred to as Maharam. The synagogue was purposed for officiating shabbat
. The two synagogues could seat 3000 prayers combined.
It is likely that sessions of the Council of Four Lands
took place within the synagogue. During Cossac-Muscovite
invasion on Lublin in 1655, the aggressors burnt the building down although it was quickly rebuilt. During the subsequent years the building was neglected and not renovated and in 1854, after the night of Yom Kippur
, the ceiling gave away. In 1866, a long renovation was finally completed. Of the old building, only the outline of the external wall is left.
During the interwar period
due to bad technical condition, an extensive recondition was planned, however, the Second World War
broke those plans. During the war, Nazi
administration ordered to close the synagogue for worship purposes. Inside, existed a shelter for the poor, refugee
s, displaced person
s. After the disposal of Lublin Ghetto
, the synagogue with whole synagogical complex was blown up.
After the war, for a few years the ruins of the building weren't touched. In 1954, on order of the city's administration, they were dismantled because of building a new street, Aleja Tysiąclecia. There's a granite memorial, on which is written an expression in Polish
, Yiddish and Hebrew language
s.
In 2007, on initiative of Ośrodek Brama Gordzka-Teatr NN, a 3D model
of Maharshal's and Maharam's Synagogues was created, after six months of work by Krzysztof Mucha.
. For the entry, one had to use staircase located in the Maharshal's Synagogue.
There's no information on the plan of the building prior to the 1656 fire, besides the outlines on the city plans from: 1783, circa 1800, 1823 and 1829. The outline from 1823 is similar to the 1920 drawing. Until today, at least dozen of photographs, drawing and plans from the interwar period remainded, thanks to which both internal and external views of the synagogue are known.
The building was fragmented on two long, narrow and preceded by a vestibule, rooms: a main room for prayers, clinged to the prayers' room in Maharshal's Synagogue and a women's zone from the external side. Both of the rooms had a wooden ceiling.
On the middle of the main room for prayers, a short, 8-sided, 2-entry and arounded by bannister, bimah
. On the Eastern wall, an ark
was located, with Decalogue
's memorials and covered by a parochet
with the Star of David
embroidered. Besides, on this wall, a polychrome
was painted as well as an unidentified picture.
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
in Lublin
Lublin
Lublin is the ninth largest city in Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 350,392 . Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula river...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, which was located on a no longer existing Jateczna 3 Street. The synagogue was a part of synagogical complex in Podzamcze.
History
Maharam's Synagogue was built near the end of the 16th or in the beginning of the 17th century, as a building clinging to the southern wall of Maharshal's Synagogue. The synagogue was named in honour of Lublin's rector and rabbiRabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
, Meir Lublin
Meir Lublin
Meir Lublin or Meir ben Gedalia was a Polish rabbi, Talmudist and Posek . He is well known for his commentary on the Talmud, Meir Einai Chachamim. He is also referred to as Maharam .-Biography:Maharam was born in Lublin, Poland...
, who was also referred to as Maharam. The synagogue was purposed for officiating shabbat
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
. The two synagogues could seat 3000 prayers combined.
It is likely that sessions of the Council of Four Lands
Council of Four Lands
The Council of Four Lands in Lublin, Poland was the central body of Jewish authority in Poland from 1580 to 1764. Seventy delegates from local kehillot met to discuss taxation and other issues important to the Jewish community...
took place within the synagogue. During Cossac-Muscovite
Muscovite
Muscovite is a phyllosilicate mineral of aluminium and potassium with formula KAl22, or 236. It has a highly-perfect basal cleavage yielding remarkably-thin laminæ which are often highly elastic...
invasion on Lublin in 1655, the aggressors burnt the building down although it was quickly rebuilt. During the subsequent years the building was neglected and not renovated and in 1854, after the night of Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur , also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue...
, the ceiling gave away. In 1866, a long renovation was finally completed. Of the old building, only the outline of the external wall is left.
During the interwar period
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
due to bad technical condition, an extensive recondition was planned, however, the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
broke those plans. During the war, Nazi
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
administration ordered to close the synagogue for worship purposes. Inside, existed a shelter for the poor, refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s, displaced person
Displaced person
A displaced person is a person who has been forced to leave his or her native place, a phenomenon known as forced migration.- Origin of term :...
s. After the disposal of Lublin Ghetto
Lublin Ghetto
The Lublin Ghetto was a World War II ghetto created by Nazi Germany in the city of Lublin in occupied Poland, on the Nazi-administered territory of the General Government. Its inhabitants were mostly Polish Jews, although a number of Roma were also present. The Lublin Ghetto, set up in March 1941,...
, the synagogue with whole synagogical complex was blown up.
After the war, for a few years the ruins of the building weren't touched. In 1954, on order of the city's administration, they were dismantled because of building a new street, Aleja Tysiąclecia. There's a granite memorial, on which is written an expression in Polish
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
, Yiddish and Hebrew language
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
s.
In 2007, on initiative of Ośrodek Brama Gordzka-Teatr NN, a 3D model
3D modeling
In 3D computer graphics, 3D modeling is the process of developing a mathematical representation of any three-dimensional surface of object via specialized software. The product is called a 3D model...
of Maharshal's and Maharam's Synagogues was created, after six months of work by Krzysztof Mucha.
Architecture
The brick building was erected on the plan of elongated square in West-East direction in renaissance styleRenaissance architecture
Renaissance architecture is the architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 17th centuries in different regions of Europe, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture. Stylistically, Renaissance...
. For the entry, one had to use staircase located in the Maharshal's Synagogue.
There's no information on the plan of the building prior to the 1656 fire, besides the outlines on the city plans from: 1783, circa 1800, 1823 and 1829. The outline from 1823 is similar to the 1920 drawing. Until today, at least dozen of photographs, drawing and plans from the interwar period remainded, thanks to which both internal and external views of the synagogue are known.
The building was fragmented on two long, narrow and preceded by a vestibule, rooms: a main room for prayers, clinged to the prayers' room in Maharshal's Synagogue and a women's zone from the external side. Both of the rooms had a wooden ceiling.
On the middle of the main room for prayers, a short, 8-sided, 2-entry and arounded by bannister, bimah
Bimah
A bimah A bimah A bimah (among Ashkenazim, derived from Hebrew בּמה , almemar (from Arabic al-minbar) or tebah (among Sephardim) is the elevated area or platform in a Jewish synagogue which is intended to serve the place where the person reading aloud from the Torah stands during the Torah reading...
. On the Eastern wall, an ark
Ark (synagogue)
The Torah ark or ark in a synagogue is known in Hebrew as the Aron Kodesh by the Ashkenazim and as the Hekhál amongst most Sefardim. It is generally a receptacle, or ornamental closet, which contains each synagogue's Torah scrolls...
was located, with Decalogue
Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue , are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in Judaism and most forms of Christianity. They include instructions to worship only God and to keep the Sabbath, and prohibitions against idolatry,...
's memorials and covered by a parochet
Parochet
Parochet is the curtain on the front of the Aron Kodesh in a synagogue that covers the Sifrei Torah...
with the Star of David
Star of David
The Star of David, known in Hebrew as the Shield of David or Magen David is a generally recognized symbol of Jewish identity and Judaism.Its shape is that of a hexagram, the compound of two equilateral triangles...
embroidered. Besides, on this wall, a polychrome
Polychrome
Polychrome is one of the terms used to describe the use of multiple colors in one entity. It has also been defined as "The practice of decorating architectural elements, sculpture, etc., in a variety of colors." Polychromatic light is composed of a number of different wavelengths...
was painted as well as an unidentified picture.