The long-awaited renovation of the 17th-century synagogue in Chęciny is getting under way. The synagogue will house a Center for Jewish Remembrance and Culture, whose aim will be to teach “tolerance and respect for other religions and cultures.”
Total cost of the renovation is estimated at nearly 8 million Polish zloty (€1.7 million), of which 5.2 million zloty (€1.1 million) were obtained from the EU in 2019.
Mayor Robert Jaworski told the Polish news agency PAP’s local government news service that a company that will carry out the renovation had already taken over the building, and work was expected to last until the end of 2023.
He said work will adapt the interiors for cultural and educations purposes and also entail:
a new roof, facade, stairs and floors. In the historical part of the former synagogue, the floors will be restored to their original level. All internal and external installations will also be replaced. Construction work included in a program of conservation will also be carried out, and the area outside the building will be developed.
The synagogue, with its Polish-style double mansard roof, dates from about 1640. During World War II the Nazis established a ghetto in Chęciny for some 4,000 people. They were herded into the synagogue in 1942 and deported to the Treblinka death camp. Devastated by the Germans, the synagogue was long used as a cinema in the post-war period, and also as a culture center and offices. Its condition has seriously decayed in recent years despite efforts to restore it.
The new Center will also include a permanent multimedia exhibit about Jewish history.
“Chęciny is primarily associated with the castle towering over the city and its medieval history. Meanwhile, the four-century history of Chęciny Jews is an integral part of our identity,” Jaworski told PAP. “Our castle was visited by over 240,000 people last year. We assume that a significant percentage of these tourists from the castle will go down to the city, visit the synagogue and learn not only the history of the Middle Ages, but also the four-century history of Jews.”