Padua Synagogue

Last updated

Padua Synagogue
Aron Hakodesh Padoue.JPG
The Torah Ark in the synagogue, in 2008
Religion
Affiliation Orthodox Judaism
Rite Italian rite
Ecclesiastical or organisational status Synagogue
StatusActive
Location
LocationSan Martino e Solferino 9, Padua, Veneto
Country Italy
Relief map of Italien Venetien.png
Red pog.svg
Location of the synagogue in Veneto
Geographic coordinates 45°24′21″N11°52′33″E / 45.4057°N 11.8758°E / 45.4057; 11.8758
Architecture
Type Synagogue architecture
Style Baroque
Completed1548
Specifications
Length18 m (59 ft)
Width7 m (23 ft)
Materials Brick
[1]

The Padua Synagogue, also called the Great Italian Synagogue in Padua (Italian : Sinagoga di Padova di rito italiano), is an Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, that is located at San Martino e Solferino 9, in Padua, Veneto, Italy. Completed in 1548, it is the only synagogue still in use of the several that flourished in the university town of Padua from the Renaissance through World War II.

Contents

History

The Italian Synagogue was built in 1548. [1] [2] [3]

The synagogue underwent renovation and/or restoration in 1581, 1631, 1830, and 1865. It was closed in 1892 when the community built a modern synagogue, but reopened after the war because in 1943 fascists burned the modern synagogue. [2] [3]

The synagogue is located at 9 Via San Martino and Solferino in the historic ghetto. It is in the same building as the offices of the Jewish community of Padua  [ it ]. Students visiting the university are welcome to pray with the congregation. Visitors can see the synagogue by contacting the Jewish community. [2]

Architecture

The Baroque synagogue measures 18 by 7 m (59 by 23 ft). As is usual in Italian synagogues, the Bimah and Torah Ark are located at opposite sides of the room, with the space in between left vacant to accommodate the processional. What is unusual about the synagogue at Padua is that the Ark and Bimah are placed on the synagogues's long walls. [2]

The baroque, sixteenth century Torah Ark is made from the wood of a plane tree that was struck down by lightning in the University's famous botanical garden. It features gilded doors, four Corinthian columns made of black marble with white veining, and carved foliage. The balduchin is in the form of a broken pediment. [2]

The "majestic" Bimah is reached by a curved flight of eight steps on each side. It features an octagonal balduchin supported by four columns and four pilasters (two projecting form the wall.) The Corinthian capitals of the pillars and pilasters are gilded. Elaborate baroque carvings surmount the balduchin. [2]

The ceiling is coffered and painted. The area between the Torah Ark and Bimah is a coffered barrel vault, with large, heavily-carved baroque rosettes in each recess. [2]

The historic women's gallery is upstairs. Today, the synagogue has a women's section on the main floor. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torah ark</span> Receptacle which contains a synagogues Torah scrolls

A Torah ark is an ornamental chamber in the synagogue that houses the Torah scrolls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Synagogue architecture</span> Style of architecture

Synagogue architecture often follows styles in vogue at the place and time of construction. There is no set blueprint for synagogues and the architectural shapes and interior designs of synagogues vary greatly. According to tradition, the Shekhinah or divine presence can be found wherever there is a minyan, a quorum, of ten. A synagogue always contains an Torah ark where the Torah scrolls are kept, called the aron qodesh by Ashkenazi Jews and the hekhal by Sephardic Jews.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Synagogue of Vilna</span> Former Orthodox synagogue in Vilnius, Lithuania

The Great Synagogue, officially, the Great City Synagogue in Vilna, also the Great Synagogue of Vilnius, is a former Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located atI-2 Jewish Street in the Old Town of Vilnius, in the Vilnius County of Lithuania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chachmei Lublin Yeshiva Synagogue</span> Orthodox synagogue and yeshiva in Lublin, Poland

The Chachmei Lublin Yeshiva Synagogue is a Hasidic Jewish congregation, synagogue, and yeshiva, located at 85 Lubartowska Street, in Lublin, in the Lublin Voivodeship of Poland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Włodawa Synagogue</span> Former Orthodox synagogue complex in Włodawa, Poland

The Włodawa Synagogue is a former Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue complex, located at 5-7 Czerwonego Krzyża Street, in Włodawa, in the Lublin Voivodeship of Poland. The synagogue complex comprises the Włodawa Great Synagogue, the Small Synagogue or Beit midrash, and a Jewish administrative building, all now preserved as a Jewish museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Przedbórz Synagogue</span> Destroyed synagogue in Przedbórz, Poland

The Przedbórz Synagogue was a former Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, that was located at the southeastern corner of the Main Square, at the intersection of today's Giełczyńska and Senatorska Streets, in Przedbórz, in the Łódź Voivodeship of Poland. Designed as a wooden synagogue and completed in 1889, the synagogue served as a house of prayer until World War II when it was destroyed by Nazis in 1939.

The Biella Synagogue is a Jewish congregation and synagogue, that is located at Vicolo del Bellone 3, in Biella, Piedmont, Italy. The synagogue was completed in 1780.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Fallsburg Hebrew Association Synagogue</span>

The South Fallsburg Hebrew Association Synagogue is a historic Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located on Lake Street in the hamlet of South Fallsburg, New York, in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheltenham Synagogue</span> Orthodox synagogue in Cheltenham, England

The Cheltenham Synagogue is an Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located on Synagogue Lane in St James's Square of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, in the United Kingdom. The congregation was formed in 1820 and worships in the Ashkenazi rite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plymouth Synagogue</span> Historic site

The Plymouth Synagogue, also called the Plymouth Hebrew Congregation, is an Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located on Catherine Street, in the city of Plymouth, Devon, England, in the United Kingdom. The congregation was formed in c. 1740s and worships in the Ashkenazi rite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Óbuda Synagogue</span> Chabad synagogue in Óbuda, Budapest, Hungary

The Óbuda Synagogue is an Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located in Óbuda, in the III district of Budapest, Hungary. The synagogue was completed in 1821 by an Orthodox congregation who worshipped in the Ashkenazi rite, founded in the 1730s. The congregation made a change to Neolog in 1831; and, since 2010, have followed the Orthodox Chabad movement, worshipping in the Ari rite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cherasco Synagogue</span> Former synagogue in Cherasco, Italy

The Cherasco Synagogue is a former Jewish congregation and synagogue, that is located at Via Marconi 4, in Cherasco, Piedmont, Italy. Designed in the Baroque style, the synagogue was completed in the 18th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ferrara Synagogue</span> Synagogue complex in Ferrara, Italy

The Ferrara Synagogue is a Jewish congregation and synagogue complex, that is located at Via Mazzini 95, in Ferrara, in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Designed in the Baroque style, the synagogue complex comprises the Scuola Italiana, completed in 1485 and operated until 1944; the Scuola Tedesca, completed in 1603; and the Scuola Fanese, completed in the 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Temple Beth Hillel Beth Abraham</span> Reform synagogue near Millville, New Jersey, United States

Temple Beth Hillel Beth Abraham, officially Congregation Temple Beth Hillel – Beth Abraham of Carmel, is a Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue located at 547 Irving Avenue in the Carmel section of Deerfield Township, near Millville, in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exeter Synagogue</span> Synagogue in the City of Exeter, Devon, England

The Exeter Synagogue is a Jewish synagogue, located in Synagogue Place, Mary Arches Street, in the old city of Exeter, Devon, England, in the United Kingdom. Established in the 1720s as the Exeter Hebrew Congregation, an Orthodox congregation that worshiped in the Ashkenazi rite, the congregation has been led by laity since c. 1990s, and caters to all shades of Judaism including Reform, Liberal, Masorti and other Jewish denominations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation</span> Heritage-listed synagogue in East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

The East Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, also known as East Melbourne Shule, East Melbourne Synagogue, Melbourne City Synagogue or City of Melbourne Synagogue is an Orthodox Jewish congregation and historically significant synagogue, located in East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The synagogue, consecrated in 1877, is the oldest in Melbourne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siena Synagogue</span> Synagogue in Siena, Italy

The Siena Synagogue is a notable, historic Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at via delle Scotte 14, in Siena, Tuscany, Italy. The building also houses the Jewish Museum of Siena, a Jewish museum. Designed by Giuseppe del Rosso in the Neoclassical style with extensive Rococo features, the synagogue was completed in May 1786.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Synagogue of Livorno</span> Synagogue in Livorno, Italy

The New Synagogue of Livorno, or Great Synagogue of Livorno, is a Jewish congregation and synagogue, that is located at Piazza Benamozegh 1, in Livorno, in Tuscany, Italy. Designed in the Modernist style, the synagogue was completed in 1922.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canton Synagogue</span> Former Orthodox synagogue, now Jewish museum, in Venice, Italy

The Canton Synagogue is a former Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, that is located in the Jewish Ghetto of Venice, Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stupava Synagogue</span> Synagogue in Stupava, Slovakia

The Stupava Synagogue is a former Jewish congregation and synagogue, located on Hlavná ulica, in Stupava, in the Malacky District of the Bratislava Region of Slovakia. The synagogue was completed in 1803 and was used as a place of worship until World War II. The building, still standing, has been repurposed as a cultural center. The congregation worshiped in the Ashkenazi rite.

References

  1. 1 2 "Great Italian Synagogue in Padua". Historic Synagogues of Europe. Foundation for Jewish Heritage and the Center for Jewish Art at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. n.d. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Sacerdoti, Annie (2003). Guide to Jewish Italy (2004 English ed.). New York, USA: Rizzoli. pp. 74–7.
  3. 1 2 Brandes, Francesca (1997). "Jewish Padua". Venice and Environs, Jewish Places, history and art. New York, USA: Marsilio. pp. 56–75.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Synagogue (Padua) at Wikimedia Commons