The historic wooden synagogue in Pakruojis, Lithuania has been reopened after a major restoration project that used old photos to recreate the whimsical polychrome images on its walls and vaulted ceiling.
The building will house a children’s literature section of the Juozas Paukštelis Public Library and also host concerts and other cultural events. An exhibit tells the history of the Jews of the Pakruojis region.
The nearly more than €750,000 project was carried out over nearly three years by the Pakruojis Regional Administration, with more than €568,000 in financing from Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein under the European Economic Area and Norway financial grants mechanism.
The opening ceremony May 19 was attended by Deputy Norwegian ambassador Turid Kristin Lilleng, deputy Israeli ambassador Efrat Hochstetler, and director of the Lithuanian Ministry of Culture’s EEA Financing Program Dalia Stabrauskaitė, as well as the head of the Lithuanian Jewish community and other representatives.
Watch a video of the open — and see the restored building:
Built in 1801, the synagogue is the oldest surviving synagogue in Lithuania. Pre-WW2 photographs document the interior — with a carved bimah (which was not restored) and wall paintings that include charming depictions of trees, plants, animals, houses and even a train.
The building suffered severe damage in a fire in 2009.
Some 200 or more elaborate wooden synagogues were found in eastern Europe before World War II. Almost all were destroyed. Lithuania is one of the few countries that still has wooden synagogues — about 14 altogether. All of them, however, are fairly simple buildings that probably survived destruction because of their relatively nondescript appearance.
After World War II the Pakruojis synagogue was transformed into a movie house; it was also used as a sports hall, and then eventually abandoned.
The Center for Jewish Art at Hebrew University in Jerusalem created an excellent digital presentation about the synagogue that illustrates the history of the synagogue and the Jewish presence in the town — noting that there were once three synagogues in Pakruojis. It includes a digital recreation of the building, inside and out, showing the architectural and artistic features.
It also includes the striking photo documentation of the synagogue made in 1938, showing the painted decoration on the ceiling and the carved ark and bimah, that was used by the restorers to recreated the ceiling paintings and even the wallpaper.
8 comments on “Lithuania: Restored wooden synagogue in Pakruojis reopens (see video)”
Does anyone have any information about the Davidoff family from Pokroy?
This is the synagogue where my grandfather prayed as a child, in Pokroy. Lazar Kopilowitz.
My father and all his family were from Pokroy as well
Lurie family .
My mother’s parents and family were from Pokroi. I am researching my ancestry and found some very interesting information. Hope all is well.
Hi Howard,
If you see this message please get in touch with me. I am related to Kopilowitz from Pokroy.
kitte68@gmail.com
Cheers,
Kittee Berns
My mother’s parents and family were from Pokroi. I am researching my ancestry and found some very interesting information. Hope all is well.
Hi Len, I also am researching my grandfather Yossele Klavansky and great grandfather Israel Klevansky from Pokroi. Israel’s wife was Bella Kagan. her father was named Gershon.
If you happen to find any information on either Israel Klevansky’s siblings or Bella Kagan’s siblings can you please email at deeklein18@gmail.com.
thank you, Dovid Klein
Hi Len,
My grandmother was from Pokroi too. Her name was Sylvia Kaufman, her parents (my great grandparents) were Zorach and Faiga Kaufman.
If you find any information on Pokroi, please also email me at danikatzuk@gmail.com.