Synagogues in Trnava video.

Trnava is one of only a few towns in Slovakia that has two preserved synagogues, both originating from the end of the 19th century. After the Provincial Congress in Budapest in 1868, which led to the formation of three Jewish streams - status quo ante, neologic, and orthodox - a group of Orthodox believers in Trnava grew out of the original religious community in 1881. They preferred to live life according to original Jewish principles. They set up their own school in the townhouse on the corner of Kapitulská and Haulíková Streets, and on the plot behind the house they later built a synagogue. The exact year of its construction is unknown, but since it is marked on a map from 1895, it must have originated sometime before this date. It is built, together with the synagogue status quo, in accordance with the regulations of that time - nested in the plot, away from the street.The orthodox synagogue is a hall building without towers - it‘s called the "small synagogue" due to its size. It is oriented east-west, with cast-iron columns supporting the women's indoor galleries. Besides these, several original historic art and craft details and remnants of the original mural are preserved in the interior.The continuity of Jewish community life was interrupted by the rise of fascism in 1939. After World War II, the synagogue served only briefly in its original function. It was terminated in early 1950`s. Since then, and for many years, it was used for various utilitarian purposes, mostly as storage, and then fell into disrepair. The Jewish community restored the synagogue at the beginning of the 1990’s, and sold it to a private owner. It has undergone a complex reconstruction and after decades is once again open to the public. Its reconstruction to a new socio-cultural use, despite not serving its original function, is still a quite unique achievement, especially considering the marginal number of restorations of Jewish monuments in Slovakia.

 

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