The Great Synagogue in Łęczna

The Great Synagogue in Łęczna, built between 1648 and 1655, is one of the best-preserved synagogues in the Lublin Voivodeship. Its construction began with the approval of Kraków Bishop Piotr Gembicki and the town's owner, Katarzyna z Firlejów Noskowska. The synagogue has weathered numerous historical upheavals, including fires in 1846 and 1881, as well as destruction during World War II, when the Nazis used it as a storage facility. After the war, the building stood abandoned, and its interior was looted by local residents. In 1953, a renovation began that lasted until 1964, transforming the synagogue into the seat of the Museum of the Lublin Coal Basin and later the Jewish Museum. From 1966 to 2014, it also served as the Regional Museum, where rich collections of Judaica were exhibited. Architecturally, the synagogue is constructed of limestone and partially of brick, in the Renaissance style with Baroque elements. It features three-axis elevations, and its walls are up to 2.4 meters thick, supported by buttresses. The main prayer hall contains a two-story bimah, richly decorated with stucco and polychrome paintings, as well as an Aron ha-kodesh with a Hebrew inscription, making it unique in Poland. An annex that previously housed the women's section (babiniec) and an entrance hall was dismantled during the communist era and rebuilt in a form lacking historical value. The interior of the synagogue was originally covered with polychrome paintings, though the walls are now painted white. An added value of the synagogue is a memorial plaque dedicated to Jews who perished at the hands of the Nazis, as well as a small lapidarium with matzevot (Jewish tombstones). Currently, the synagogue is owned by the Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage, and its history reflects the centuries-long cultural and religious achievements of the Jewish community in Łęczna, contributing to the preservation of memory about their presence in Poland. Interestingly, the Regional Museum once exhibited a unique Jewish women's costume from Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski. The Łęczna Synagogue remains an important landmark on the cultural map, reminding us of the rich tradition and history of Jews in Poland.