10 largest synagogues in the world

Synagogues are places of public worship for adherents of Judaism. In this list, we will tell you about the ten largest synagogues in the world. And also about why they can become an example of resilience, despite many trials that threatened their existence, such as anti-Semitism, wars, sectarian strife and other political processes.

In addition, synagogues serve as a cradle for vanishing Jewish literature and cultural heritage, as well as a place where Jews, spread throughout the world, can meet and perform the rite of worship. In all adversity, the continued resilience and dedication of the world's Jewish communities has proven to be their greatest asset.

10. Center of Bratslav, Ukraine

The Bratslav Center, located in the Ukrainian city of Uman, is one of the largest synagogues in Europe with a capacity of up to 5,000 people. Founded more than 40 years ago, the synagogue has changed enormously and now includes a museum, school and other institutions. Located next to the burial place of one of the greatest personalities of the Hasidic groups, Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav, the center receives thousands of pilgrims every year, especially during the holiday of Rosh Hashanah.

In the late seventies, the authorities of the Soviet Union converted the synagogue into a metallurgical plant and forbade Jews to visit these sacred places for them. At present, the Bratslav Center is an actively working institution implementing several social projects that are important for society.

9. Dohany Street Synagogue, Budapest

The largest in Europe, the Dohany Street Synagogue (also known as the Great Synagogue), with a capacity of about 3,000, is today the center of modern Judaism. The construction of the Great Synagogue began in 1854 and ended in 1859, and its design is somewhat reminiscent of the ornaments of the Islamic countries of North Africa with elements of patterns from Medieval Spain. The Dohany Street Synagogue has a complex that includes the Temple of Heroes, a cemetery, a monument, a Jewish Museum and the synagogue itself. The synagogue has three aisles, two balconies, an organ and an ark containing scrolls from synagogues destroyed by the Nazi regime. After Hungary gained democracy in the nineties of the twentieth century, renovation began in the country and Judeans from all over the world began to send their donations. However, the synagogue has already experienced several anti-Semitic attacks, which are believed to be the result of political incitement. For example, in 2012, hooligans set fire to an Israeli flag next to a synagogue.

8. Synagogue in Trieste, Trieste

The construction of the Synagogue in Trieste began in 1908 and was completed in 1912. However, it had to close its doors already in 1942 due to the fascist regime in Italy. Thereafter, the Nazi occupation used the synagogue as a repository for books and art. The external design of the synagogue largely copies the Roman architecture of the fourth century, in which the desire to revive the Hebrew designs is manifested.

The ceiling is decorated with symmetrically placed pendants, images of stars, and a few verses from the book of Psalms. The synagogue in Trieste is one of the largest and most valuable places of worship for Jews in Europe.

7. Great Synagogue, Pilsen

The construction of the Great Synagogue in Pilsen was completed in 1892 at a cost of 162,138 guilders. This synagogue is the second largest in Europe and owes its Gothic style to the Viennese architect Fleischer. The building is made in the neo-Renaissance style and is decorated with a large Star of David. The domes of the synagogue are similar in appearance to the domes of Russian Orthodox churches, and the ceilings are decorated with a mixture of Indian and Arabic styles.

During the Second World War, the Great Synagogue served as a storehouse and, therefore, was not destroyed. After 1973, the Great Synagogue was abandoned and not restored until 1995. Her second discovery happened in 1998.

6. Satmar Synagogue, New York

The Satmara Synagogue is located in New York City and is on good terms with a nearby synagogue. The Satmars are a religiously strict Hasidic dynasty with about 75,000 followers worldwide. The parishioners of the Satmar Synagogue use Yiddish as their primary language. It is worth noting that the Satmar Synagogue is considered a sect. She opposes Israel and prohibits participants from performing civic duties such as running for president in Israel.

Rejecting modernity, the followers of the Satmar Synagogue made their motto the phrase “Torah forbids everything new”, which is believed to belong to Moses.

5. Congregation of Yetiev Lev D'Satmar, Brooklyn

The Congregation of Yetiev Lev D'Satmar is a Hasidic synagogue in Brooklyn, built in 2006 in just 14 working days by the followers of Aaron Teitelbaum, the eldest son of Satmar Rebbe Moshe Teitelbaum and brother of Zalman, which is why it is popularly called the “miracle synagogue”. More than 200 people built this synagogue 18 hours a day, resting only on Shabbat. The synagogue was planned to be completed by the Jewish New Year.

Steel frames and plaster were the main building materials in the construction of the synagogue. During the construction period, the synagogue faced some legal difficulties related to the violation of safety rules, however, the work never stopped. It is worth noting that the synagogue has a maximum capacity of 7,000.

4. Beth Zedek Congregation, Toronto

The Beth Zedek Congregation, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is the largest traditional synagogue in North America. This synagogue was formed from the merger of Goel Tzedek and Bet Ha-Midrash and today has about 6,000 permanent members. Beth Zedek adheres strictly to traditional Jewish culture and history.

Initially, the synagogue was a place of worship for Orthodox believers observing the principles of Judaism. With a strictly set mission of building a conservative Judaism that brings biblical miracles to people's lives, the members of this synagogue strive to honor Jewish traditions and respect their religion.

3. Great Synagogue in Belz, Jerusalem

The Great Synagogue in Belz, located in Jerusalem, took 15 years to build. It has a main sanctuary for up to 10,000 people, but which only opens on Shabbat and other Jewish holidays. This synagogue is the largest in Israel and its construction was sponsored by the Hasidic community and caring people.

The synagogue has four main entrances from all four streets that surround it. And this synagogue is also interesting because it contains a wooden ark, which contains 70 Torah scrolls and this fact is entered in the Guinness Book of Records.

2. Temple Emanu-El, New York

Jews with German roots founded the Temple of Emanu-El in New York in 1845 and was the first Reform synagogue in all of Manhattan. As the ninth largest synagogue in the world, this synagogue dwarfs most of the largest synagogues in Europe and has about 3,000 parishioner families. The phrase “Emanu-El” means “God is with us” and, due to history, the Temple houses Bernard's Judaic Museum.

As early as the 1870s, this temple abolished gender segregation and also allowed men to worship without a kippah. Large groups of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe joined Eman-El in the 1930s, bringing their dialect to Yiddish and Orthodox traditions.

1. Kehilat Kol Ha-Neshama, Jerusalem

Kehilat Kol Ha-Neshama was built in 1965 and is located in Baka, Jerusalem. It is the largest reformed and also unorthodox synagogue in Israel for Jews. The synagogue has ties to the Israeli Movement for Progressive Judaism with strong convictions in Zionism, pluralism, volunteerism, civic action, peace and social justice.

Describing itself as progressive, the synagogue openly supports the LGBT community in Jerusalem and has organized several LGBT-related events in the United States and Israel. This support has led to criticism from conservative Jews around the world.