Görlitz Synagogue

The synagogue in Görlitz, built between 1909 and 1911 according to the design of architects William Lossow and Max Hans Kühne, is an outstanding example of Neoclassical and Art Nouveau styles, characterized by its steel-concrete structure. As the only synagogue in Saxony, it was only slightly damaged during the Kristallnacht of November 9–10, 1938, making it a significant site in the memory of the region's Jewish history. After World War II, the building gradually fell into disrepair, and in 1963 it was purchased by the city of Görlitz, yet it continued to deteriorate over the years. In 1988, a plaque was placed on the synagogue in honor of the Jewish victims of the Third Reich. In 1991, efforts were undertaken to secure the building, and currently, there are plans to adapt it for cultural purposes. The synagogue could accommodate 280 worshippers in the main section and 220 in the women's section, and the organ from the synagogue was moved to St. Boniface's Church in Zgorzelec. Interestingly, despite the difficult times, the synagogue remains a symbol of remembrance of the Jewish diaspora and the architectural heritage of the region.