Description
The synagogue in Brno is the only operating synagogue in the territory of Moravia and Silesia, with its own rabbi. This unique building designed in functionalist style was used as a warehouse during Second World War, which resulted in considerable damage. The interior was destroyed and later appended by movables taken from other places of worship regardless their non-functionalist style. Despite re-consecration after the war, the synagogue did not go through any major structural modifications, and has fallen into disrepair. The overall aim of the project is to return the interior of the synagogue into its original condition and preserve Jewish cultural heritage in the Czech Republic. This project is the follow-up of implemented project supported by the EU Regional Operational Programme South-East, which completed structural renovation of the building. The key activity of the project is creation of replicas of the mobiliary (especially the pews) according to the archived pictures. As regards the preserved objects (lecterns and tables) these will be restored, as well as the floor. Missing equipment of the synagogue with objects of worship and other mobiliary (esp. Torah and sacral textiles) will be obtained. These objects will be made according to the necessary standards. The synagogue will be also opened to the public. The renewed synagogue will serve for its religious purposes and also for cultural events, concerts, exhibitions and educational workshops. The goal of these activities is to renew the awareness and knowledge of the presence of Jewish tradition and culture in the historical development of the region, and of the influences on the identity of local population. Thanks to the cooperation with Jewish Museum in Oslo, history and lives of important members of Jewish community from Brno who escaped to Norway during and after the Second World War will be mapped and researched. The Museum will also cooperate on educational activities under the project.
Summary of project results
The Brno synagogue is one and only full-fledged synagogue in Moravia and Silesia where services are held and which has its own rabbi. Based on the project, in 2013 the Brno Jewish Community launched a general reconstruction of synagogue which aimed to bring both the building and its interior into the identical state as it was in 1936. In 1936, the synagogue was handed over to the use of the Jewish religious association Agudas Achim. Synagogue is a unique building in the functionalist style, which is characteristic of pre-war Brno. Project financed from the EEA and Norwegian Funds builds on the previous reconstruction of the exterior of the building. Within the reconstruction of the building interior floor, pews, lectems and tables were restored. All the reconstruction works followed the functionalism artistic style. Missing equipment of the synagogue with objects of worship and other mobiliary (esp. Torah and sacral textiles) were gained. In order to restore the religious mission of the sanctuary, it was necessary to obtain completely new liturgical textiles and replace the existing ones which did not correspond with the functionalist style of the building. After long decades the Brno Jewish Community acquired a new sacred Torah scroll. Its author is Rabbi and scribe Moshe Flumenbaum, who has STAM qualification. Moreover, restoration of the building and the interior has been positively assessed by the National Heritage Institute’s Brno Office and the Department of Conservation of the City of Brno. The synagogue is also opened to the public. What is most important is that besides the building interior the spiritual purpose of the synagogue has been restored.
Summary of bilateral results
For EEA project and BFB Initiative: The Jewish Community in Brno and the Jewish Museum in Oslo signed a partnership agreement, to which also the Brno City Museum at Špilberk was invited. The main objectives of the project and initiative were exchange events (mainly cultural – exhibitions etc.), which had been preceded by joint working meetings of partners in both cities. The common interest of all partners was the Jewish history and culture (e.g. the architect Otto Eisler). The BFB initiative and EEA project continues to strengthen "multiplier" potential, which is already reflected in the implementation of the partnership within the main EEA project - developing and strengthening cooperation among institutions from Brno and Oslo with interest in Judaism. This initiative fostered mainly cooperation between the Brno City Museum (MMB) and the National Museum in Oslo (NMO). This initiatives among other things enabled representatives of MMB to organize on the ground of NMO seminar on modern architecture in Brno - mainly about Tugendhat Villa. This event was followed by some discussions, field trips to Oslo and Brno, exhibition about Otto Eisler, etc. The concluded partnership between the Jewish Community in Brno and Jewish Museum in Oslo gave rise to successful projects which not only brought closer the Jewish community but also provided a change for the cities, and eventually the countries, to represent each other its Jewish culture and history, which is something nobody had expected at the very start of the project. All events within this Bilateral Initiatives were organised under the auspices of the Mayor of the City of Brno Ing. Petr Vokřál.