#JCulture The project "Research and Preservation of Jewish Cultural Heritage in the Border Area" envisages the creation of a new tourist route in Ivano-Frankivsk

      The project "Research and Preservation of Jewish Cultural Heritage in the Border Area" envisages the creation of a new tourist route in Ivano-Frankivsk to places associated with the history of the Jewish community of our city. In a series of posts, we would also like to tell you about the buildings that were built or inhabited by members of the Jewish community, which was the largest in Stanislaviv before the Second World War.

      The only synagogue in Ivano-Frankivsk is located on Stratshenykh Street. It was built in 1895-1899. The history of this synagogue dates back to 1888. Maximilian Schloss began to work on the plan of the synagogue at the request of the Israeli Shrine Society. He developed two versions of the building, which the client sent to the architect Wilhelm Stiasnem in Vienna for improvement and amendments. This architect was engaged in the design of synagogues. He produced a new project, according to which construction began in 1895 and was completed four years later.

      In the 20s of the 20th century, the synagogue was restored and the interior was painted with new frescoes. However, during the Second World War, the Tempel of Ivano-Frankivsk almost burned down and was severely damaged. In the 1940s, the domes that crowned the building were destroyed. And on 17 November 1943, the Nazis shot 27 members of the OUN near the ruins of the synagogue, which is why the street is now named after the Executed Nationalists.

      In 1954, the empty Tempel building was taken over by the medical institute, which decided to use the first floor of the former temple as a gym, and the second floor was used as a lecture hall and student club. Only after the collapse of the USSR did the small Jewish community in Ivano-Frankivsk restore the shrine and restore its significance.

      The project "Research and Preservation of Jewish Cultural Heritage in the Border Area" (JCulture) is being implemented within the framework of the ENI Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine Cross-border Cooperation Programme 2014-2020, funded by the European Union. The responsible partner for the implementation of project activities in Ivano-Frankivsk is the Investment Policy Department of Ivano-Frankivsk City Council.