Sibiu (Hermannstadt in German) was the most important of the “siebenburgen,” the seven fortress towns in Transylvania settled by ethnic German Saxons in the 12th century, and eventually was the capital of Transylvania for parts of the 18th and 19th centuries. The Great Synagogue was designed by the architect Ferenc Szalay and built in 1899; it is listed as a historical monument. The synagogue has a red-brick and concrete facade, topped by the tablets with The Ten Commandments. The sanctuary, divided into three sections surrounded on three sides by arcaded women’s galleries, is richly decorated, with arches, a coffered ceiling, and intricate carving and inlay. The bimah stands in front of the stately Aron ha Kodesh, or Ark, situated in a recess in the blue-painted eastern wall. You can see a panoramic view of the synagogue on the Synagogues360 web site.
Click here to see a full photo documentation of the building by the Center for Jewish Art.
Our photo gallery includes images from summer 2014 by Yoraan Rafael.
Have you been to Sibiu? Submit your own photos to be included in the gallery! Send them to us at [email protected]
I am unsure if the synagogue still functions. The locals tell me that nearly all the community for Israel.
If anyone does know, I’d be appreciative.