A current exhibition at the Swedish Jewish Museum tells the story of its premises — Stockholm’s oldest preserved synagogue building.
Called Shul! The Old Town’s synagogue, the exhibit, which runs into December, covers the history of the synagogue that operated for 75 years at Själagårdsgatan 19.
The synagogue was built (in an existing building) in 1795 and functioned until 1870, when it was sold by the Jewish community and the Great Synagogue in Stockholm — still functioning today — was built.
The building at Själagårdsgatan 19 “was home to a synagogue, a religious school, a rabbi, a cantor and a kosher butcher,” the museum says. “A Mikveh, or ritual bath, was in the basement, and matzo bread for Passover was baked in the kitchen and distributed to congregation members.”
After its closure as a synagogue, the building was used as a police station until 1977.
The museum was founded in 1987 and reopened in the old synagogue premises in 2019.
During the renovation of the old synagogue to house the museum, wall and ceiling paintings probably dating from the early 19th century were discovered under thick layers of paint.
1 comment on “Sweden: Swedish Jewish Museum exhibit tells the story of its premises – the oldest preserved synagogue in Stockholm”
This was a great museum. My wife and I loved it.