The historic synagogue in Fălticeni, in northern Romania, suffered damage when part of its north wall collapsed.
Photos, and video on the NewsBucovina web site, showed that the collapse June 10 affected the central part of the wall and balcony.
It knocked out two tall central arched doors on the upper floor, with fallen rubble bursting through two windows on the ground floor, leaving gaping holes in the facade.
Further cracks can be seen on the facade above the collapsed section.
NewsBucovina quoted Robert Steinmetz, head of the tiny local Jewish community, as saying that “rapid measures” would be taken to repair the damage.
He said that plans had already been drawn up before the collapse to carry out work on the synagogue’s northern exposure.
“It is the north wall that has accumulated the most moisture. We really didn’t expect anything like this to happen before we started rebuilding,” he was quoted as saying.
The news site Monitorul de Suceava quoted Steinmetz as saying that he had recently received funding for a feasibility study for the restoration of the building.
“My dream was to rebuild the synagogue. I hope to succeed,” he was quoted as saying.
Monitorul said the first step will be the installation of support poles to prevent further collapse.
Watch the NewsBucovina video:
The neo-Romantic style masonry synagogue was built in the mid-19th century (the date on the ark says 1868, but the building itself is thought to be from 1852) on the site of an earlier wooden synagogue dating from 1795.
It is significant for its lavish decoration of its sanctuary including vivid wall and ceiling paintings and a multi-tiered carved and painted wooden ark.
The synagogue is the only one of some 34 synagogues and prayer houses in Fălticeni before WW2. Fewer than 20 Jews are believed to live in Fălticeni today.
