We’ve been following the long and fitful restoration of the art nouveau synagogue in Subotica, Serbia, for years. The saga began with the first attempts of restoration in the mid-1970s — and now, work is finally almost finished. Dedication of the building is expected, probably, in March.
The news site subotica.com has published a large photo gallery of images detailing the restored interior of the building. The images show the restored, ark, ceiling of the cupola (with folk-inspired painted decoration), stained glass windows, and more.
Subotica (known in Hungarian as Szabadka) was part of Hungary at the time the synagogue, dedicated in 1902, was built, and it was designed by the Budapest-based architects Dezső Jakab and Marcell Komor, who also designed the town hall and other buildings.
Over the past dozen years, the synagogue has been a priority project of the World Monuments Fund and its Jewish Heritage Program, with funding from several donors, and the Hungarian government has also provided significant funding.
The WMF had put the synagogue on its “Watch List” of endangered historic buildings back in 1996, and again in 2000-2001, and Europa Nostra put it on its Seven Most Endangered List in 2014.
See a slide show about the history and architecture of the building
7 comments on “First look — restored Subotica synagogue”
I would love to find some historical information on the rabbi and cantor in the early years. My maternal grandfather was a cantor (and working?) living in Szabadka (Subotica) until about 1918. Any clues where I could search for such information?
fantastic -avagy fantasztikus
Thank you for reporting on this event. I am the brother of the late Eszti Fenyves Votaw who was involved, with Ruth Gruber, in the initial SOS (Save our Synagogue) movement in the 1990’s. The process of the restoration project and its and results may not be exactly what the organizers envisaged, but at least the building is enclosed and a portion of its original splendor displayed. Our family’s particular interest comes from the fact that one of the two architects, Jakab Dezsö, was the husband of Irene Taussig, our maternal grandmother’s sister.
Hi Steve — it’s hard to believe this is actually happening (though as far as I know the date is not set). I think of Eszti all the time. Ruth
This is great news. I really wish they would set the re-dedication date and give adequate notice for those of us who would like to attend be need to make plans. Actually a late spring or early summer event would be more useful to the local economy as it might stimulate some tourism, too.
You said it!
We in Israel are already planning on sending groups to the area… I have been personally involved in doing so! Perhaps I should join an American travel agency to work together and bring joint groups there… we shall praise the Subotica/Palic area!