Boskovice Synagogue
Project for the Preservation
of an Historical Monument
Drafted by Ing.arch.Jaroslav
Klenovsky, Jewish Community of Brno 1999
Brief history and description
of monument
The "Greater Synagogue"
in Boskovice is situated on the northern edge of the former Jewish quarter,
near the historical center of the town. It is a two-story, free-standing,
oblong building with a ridged roof. It has a typical synagogue layout:
on the ground floor, the entrance hall leads to the main sanctuary for
men; in the sanctuary, the holy ark is on the eastern wall and the bimah
is in the center; a women's gallery is accessible by stairs from a separate
entrance. The synagogue underwent various stages of development.
The current structure contains elements from the baroque reconstruction
in 1698, the imperial and neogothic changes in the 1820s and 1840s, and
further changes in 1898 and 1935-6.In the eighteenth century, the walls
and vaulted interior were decorated with precious baroque frescoes containing
ornamental and floral motifs and Hebrew inscriptions. These were later
whitewashed.
Enhancing
the significance, condition and use of the monument:
Among
Moravian synagogues, the Boskovice synagogue is without a doubt one of
the most extraordinary, both architecturally and in terms of its painted
interior decorations. Its renovation project was begun in 1988 by Stavoprojekt
Brno (ing. arch. Kozumplikova). Between 1989 and 1994, the building
was secured and most of the structural renovations were completed. The
major task remaining is the restoration of the stylized paintings. The
building is not currently in use since it is being reconstructed.The renovation
of the synagogue is in accordance with the current zoning regulations,
i.e. the plan for the residential organization of Boskovice from 1991,
and it is in the program for the regeneration of Boskovice's urban monuments
drafted in 1993-4.
Fragments
of the painted interior revealed during the restoration survey, were provisionally
pasted over in 1988 and must be properly restored. Several parts
of the surface are in danger of peeling off; consequently, the monument
requires intensive work for the renovation to be completed.
Plan for use
After
the renovation is completed, the Boskovice Synagogue will serve as a space
for the museum exhibit on Jewish culture in Boskovice. This exhibit
will be run by a Town Museum of Boskovice, which must leave its current
premises next year. In addition to preserving a very precious cultural
monument in the town of Boskovice, this project will also help improve
the center of the former ghetto and attract local and foreign tourists.
About
$100,000 is needed for the completion of the project.
The projected
date of completion is December 31, 2001.
For more information,
please contact ISJM.
