The town of Sopron is funding work to convert part of the medieval Old Synagogue complex into new headquarters for the local Jewish community. At the same time, the city has also allocated funds to restore the town’s long-derelict orthodox synagogue as a religious and cultural space.
The developments were announced at a recent news conference by Mayor Ciprián Farkas and András Heisler, the president of Mazsihisz, the main Hungarian Jewish umbrella organization, along with the head of the local Jewish community and a local MP.
They said work began in mid-January to renovate the interior of the medieval building in the Old Synagogue complex that had originally served as a “hospital” — or hospice — providing accommodation for travellers.
Financed by a 20 million forint (€56,00)‚ allocation from the city, works should be completed by mid-March, they said. In addition to serving as Jewish community offices, the building will also be an educational center.
The gothic Old Synagogue is one of two medieval synagogues that face each other on the onetime Jewish Street, now called Uj utca (New street). After the expulsion of the Jews in 1526, both were transformed and used as private dwellings for centuries, and both were re-discovered and restored between the 1950s and 1970s.
The Old Synagogue, at #22 Uj utca, dates from around 1300 and is now a Jewish museum. Its complex includes the “hospital” as well as a mikvah. Click here to take a virtual 3D tour of the synagogue
At the news conference, the Mayor announced that the city was also allocating 30 million forints (approx €84,000) for the restoration of the city’s 19th century orthodox synagogue on Papret street as a Jewish religious and cultural center which will be returned to Jewish ownership. It is currently owned by the city.
Designed by the architect Janos Schiller and built in 1890-91, the domed synagogue has stood abandoned since the 1950s. It was opened to the public last year for a special exhibition and in recent years has also hosted several other cultural events.
The Mayor said a plan to restore the synagogue had already been drawn up in 2006 but had never been implemented. That plan will now be updated to allow the building to be refurbished, he said.
Read the Mazsihisz report of the news conference
Read the city’s report of the news conference
See a Center for Jewish Art photo documentation of the Orthodox synagogue