Entrance to the Synagogue, Rychnov nad Kneznou, Czech Republic, 2023
Entrance to the synagogue, Rychnov nad Kneznou, Czech Republic, 2023
The New Synagogue replaced an earlier 17th century synagogue destroyed in a fire. The building of the New Synagogue was inaugurated in 1782 and then underwent renovations and modifications in 1830, 1898, 1913 and during 1993-1995. The Neo-Classical brick building served the local Jewish community until WW II. As of early 21st century it serves as a museum focused on the Jewish history in the Lower Orlice area and the town of Rychnov nad Knĕžnou as well as on the life and works of Karel Poláček, a native of Rychnov nad Kneznou. Books, manuscripts and various objects found in the genizah of the Synagogue in Rychnov nad Knĕžnou are part of the collections of the Jewish Museum in Prague.
A memorial to the victims of the Holocaust was unveiled on the southern façade in 2002
Photo: Haim H. Ghiuzeli
The Oster Visual Documentation Center, ANU - Museum of the Jewish People, courtesy of Haim H. Ghiuzeli, Israel