Siking on the walls of the synagogue and religious studies is prohibited – such an inscription, in a translation from Hebrew, appears on a stone embedded in the wall of a historic synagogue in Orla (Podlasie). The building, in which many cultural events take place, was on this year's list of seven most endangered cultural heritage facilities in Europe. Waiting for general renovation.
Key facts:
- The history of the Orlain synagogue goes back to the times just before the Swedish invasion. It was plundered during the flood. Apparently, bricks from the destroyed Calvinist congregation were used to rebuild.
- The building also suffered in 1938 during the great fire of Orla, which consumed almost 70 percent of the town. According to legend, the fire was caused by a Jewish woman who instead of watching the oilhouse, went to the market to sell eggs.
- During World War II, the synagogue was adapted to the warehouse, and an observation socket was created on the roof. After the war, the building was stored, among others Corrafts, or straw baskets woven by local residents.
- Recent years have brought changes. Cultural events take place in the synagogue, and local social activists hope that they will be able to raise funds for general renovation. The first money is already there.
– It all began in 2019, when I met with Piotr Puchta, a new director of the Jewish Heritage Protection Foundation, who agreed to make me – and other local social activists – looked after the synagogue. Since then, life has returned to the building, and now there is a chance to carry out a thorough renovation – says Marek Chmielewski, Sołtys Orla and the social guardian of the local synagogue.