List of synagogues in Bosnia and Herzegovina

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This is a list of synagogues in Bosnia and Herzegovina which lists active, otherwise used and destroyed synagogues. It is likely incomplete as references and sources for this topic are rather scarce.

NameLocationBuiltDestroyedRemarksPicture
Sarajevo Synagogue Sarajevo 1902standDesigned in Moorish Revival style. It is the only currently functional synagogue in Sarajevo. [1] Sarajevo, Ashkenazi Synagogue.jpg
Old Synagogue/Kal Viježu Sarajevo 1580standFirst synagogue in Bosnia. Today it hosts the museum of Jews of Bosnia and Herzegovina [2] Muzej Jevreja BiH u Sarajevu, 2023.01.22 2.jpg
Il Kal Grande Sarajevo 1930standLargest and most ornate synagogue in the Balkans when built. Heavily damaged by Nazis in 1941 with the majority of the Jewish community being killed in The Holocaust. Those Jews who remained after WW2 used Sarajevo Synagogue which was the Ashkenazi synagogue. It was rebuilt after the war and was reopened as "Đuro Đaković Workers' University" in 1965. Currently it hosts the Bosnian Cultural Center which was opened in 1993.

[3]

[4]

Postcard of Il Kal Grande in Sarajevo between 1932-1941.jpg
Il Kal Nuevu Sarajevo 1870standBuilt next to the Old Synagogue. [5] Kal Nuevo Sarajevo B.JPG
Il Kal di la Bilava Sarajevo 1900standToday an apartment building. [5] [6] Kal Di La Bilava.jpg
Zenica Synagogue Zenica 1903standIt has been used as a museum since 1968.

[7] [8]

Zenica 2006 2.jpg
Doboj Synagogue Doboj 1922 (consecrated in 2003)standThe synagogue building is the reconstructed house of Alexander Vrhovski and Oto Kalamar. It is officially named "Bet Shalom Synagogue". [9] Sinagogadoboj.JPG
Old Doboj Synagogue Doboj 18741941Only the doors of this synagogue survive and are kept in the new one, which was opened in 2003. [10]
Višegrad Synagogue Višegrad 1904standCurrently the local Red cross headquarters. [6] Visegrad Synagogue 1.jpg
Mostar Synagogue Mostar 1904standHeavily damaged in Bosnian War and renovated in 1996. It hosts Mostar puppet theatre. [11] 103756 byt hknst.jpg
Old Mostar Synagogue Mostar 1889??Repurposed hay storage building.
Travnik Synagogue Travnik 18632008It replaced a wooden temple built in 1840. Demolished in 2008
Žepče Synagogue Žepče 1903? [5]
Gračanica Synagogue Gračanica 1890? [5]
Bijeljina Synagogue Bijeljina 1901? [5] Bijeljina Synagogue 1.jpg
Bihać Synagogue Bihać 19061950 [5] [6]
Derventa Synagogue Derventa 19111950Heavily damaged by Ustaše in 1941, remnants collapsed in 1950. [5] [6]
Rogatica Synagogue Rogatica 1928standStands, albeit in ruins. [5] [6]
New Temple Banja Luka 19371944Consecrated by Chief Rabbi of Yugoslavia Isaac Alcalay. [5]

[12]

First Sephardic Synagogue Banja Luka 18701878Lost because of a fire. [5]
Second Sephardic Synagogue Banja Luka 1880? [5] Banja Luka Synagogue 1.jpg
Third Sephardic Synagogue Banja Luka ?? [12]
Arie Livne Jewish Cultural Center - Ilona Weiss Synagogue Banja Luka 2014stand [13]
Visoko Synagogue Visoko 1886? [5]
Tuzla Synagogue Tuzla 1936standCurrently used as a dry cleaners. [6]
Stolac Synagogue Stolac 1832stand [6]
Zvornik Synagogue Zvornik 1902stand [6]

References

  1. ↑ "After 60 Years, Prayer Returns to Historic Sarajevo Synagogue". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  2. ↑ "Muzej Jevreja - Jevrejska zajednica Bosne i Hercegovine". 2022-08-03. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  3. ↑ "Synagogue, Workers' University, Cultural Center | Copernico. Geschichte und kulturelles Erbe im östlichen Europa". www.copernico.eu. 2023-12-07. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  4. ↑ Rajner, Mirjem (2011). Il Kal Grandi - Sarajevo's Great Sephardic Temple: At the Crossroads Between Orient and Modernity. Bar-Ilan University, Department of Jewish Art.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Sarajevski Pinkas - EL MUNDO SEFARAD". elmundosefarad.wikidot.com. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Gruber, Samuel D. (2011). Jewish Heritage Sites of Bosnia-Herzegovina. School of Architecture. Paper 97 Syracuse University. p. 9.
  7. ↑ "Euromuse". 2019-12-17. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  8. ↑ zenicablog (2023-01-21). "Zenička Sinagoga..." Zenicablog. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  9. ↑ "Synagogue | News and Notices" . Retrieved 2025-05-24.
  10. ↑ "Sinagoga, Doboj". Savez nacionalnih manjina Republike Srpske (in Bosnian). Retrieved 2025-05-24.
  11. ↑ "Komisija za očuvanje nacionalnih spomenika". 2020-07-20. Archived from the original on 20 July 2020. Retrieved 2025-05-23.
  12. 1 2 "Sinagoga – Jevrejski kulturni centar Arie Livne" (in Bosnian). Retrieved 2025-05-31.
  13. ↑ "O nama – Jevrejski kulturni centar Arie Livne" (in Bosnian). Retrieved 2025-05-31.
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