The Great Lyubavichi Synagogue reopened in Vitebsk after restoration
The building is located on Revolyutsionnaya Street near the railway station and is part of the historical center of the city. It has the status of a historical and cultural value as the only surviving synagogue of Vitebsk from past centuries.
A few more years of waiting, and the structure would have been beyond saving, noted experts and distinguished guests who attended the grand opening ceremony of the Jewish prayer house.
– This event is the restoration of historical justice. In addition, there is now one more place for believers in the Vitebsk region. And this means that a little more of God's blessing has descended upon our land, – said the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, Alexander Subbotin. - I am sure that the synagogue is a true decoration of the city, a landmark that will be a place of attraction for many people.
The restored object has great tourist potential. In particular, the house of Marc Chagall is located nearby, and there are all reasons to believe that the artist's family visited the synagogue. In addition, it will be not only a place for prayers but also a cultural and educational center with exhibitions and presentations, and its doors will be open to everyone.
By the beginning of the 20th century, more than half of Vitebsk's population were Jews, and there were over 50 synagogues in the city. Most of them were single-story wooden buildings. Only a few of the prayer houses stood out from the general background with their grandeur, including the Great Lyubavichskaya Synagogue.
Source: vitebsk-region.gov.by