Wooden Synagogues - Surviving Wooden Synagogues

Surviving Wooden Synagogues

Although it was long thought that none of the wooden synagogues survived the destruction of the First and Second World Wars, it is now known that a number do survive, albeit only of the smaller type.

Surviving examples include:

  • Pakruojis (Polish: Pokrój), the largest of the wooden synagogues that survives in present day Lithuania (built 1801), now in deteriorating condition
  • Tirkšliai
  • Žiežmariai (Polish: Żyżmory), in deteriorating condition
  • Telšiai (Polish: Telsze), built in 19th century, vacated around 1940
  • Kurkliai (Polish: Kurkle), in Soviet times used as barn, now in deteriorating condition
  • Alanta, built in late 19th century, in deteriorating condition
  • Rozalimas (Polish: Rozalin), built in 19th century
  • Kaltinėnai (in Commonwealth gmina Szyłele, Lithuanian: Šilalė)
  • Laukuva
  • Veisiejai (Polish: Wiejsieje)
  • Trakai (Polish: Troki), a Karaite synagogue called Kenesa built in 18th century, with altar (Torah Ark) and interior preserved in good condition
  • Subate (Latvia)

Destroyed in the 21st century:

  • Seda (Polish: Siady), built in early 20th century, collapsed in 2005
  • Plungė (Polish: Płungiany), brought down in 2007

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