Great Synagogue of Deventer

For similarly named synagogues, see Great Synagogue.
Great Synagogue of Deventer
Dutch: Grote Synagoge van Deventer
The former synagogue in 2007
Religion
Affiliation
RiteNusach Ashkenaz
Ecclesiastical or organisational status
Status
  • Inactive (as a synagogue);
  • Repurposed
Location
LocationGolstraat 23, Deventer, Overijssel
CountryThe Netherlands
Great Synagogue of Deventer is located in Overijssel
Great Synagogue of Deventer
Location of the former synagogue in Overijssel
Geographic coordinates52°15′10″N 6°09′42″E / 52.25278°N 6.16167°E / 52.25278; 6.16167
Architecture
Architect(s)Jan Anthony Mulock Houwer
TypeSynagogue architecture
Style
Groundbreaking1891
Completed1892
MaterialsBrick
[1]

The Great Synagogue of Deventer (Dutch: Grote Synagoge van Deventer) is a former Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at Golstraat 23, in the city of Deventer, in the Overijssel region of The Netherlands. Designed by J. A. Mulock Houwer in a mix of the Renaissance Revival and Moorish Revival styles, the synagogue was completed in 1892.[1][2]

History

This temple was built in 1892 by J. A. Mulock Houwer. It is a Renaissance Revival building with Moorish Revival influences.[2] The structure includes minaret-like turrets, with crescents on either side. On the summit, just above the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments directly, was a large copper Star of David. The oriental style is a reference to the Taifa of Toledo, where, before 1492, peaceful and prosperous coexistence of Judaism with Islam and Christianity prevailed. The combination of crescents and a Star of David explicitly refers to the peaceful co-existence with Islam in Toledo.

During World War II, the interior was destroyed by Dutch Nazis (members of the Dutch Nazi-party NSB).

Between 1951 and 2010 it was used as a place of worship by the Christian Reformed Church in the Netherlands.

From 2010 to 2018 the building was used as a synagogue by the Jewish community Beth Shoshanna.[2]

In February 2018 the Christian Reformed Church in the Netherlands sold the building, while rented out Congregation Beth Shoshanna, to Lenferink Groep Zwolle, the real estate firm of investors Carlus Lenferink and Geert-Harm van der Maat.[3] A restaurant entrepreneur working with the firm, Ayhan Sahin, circulated plans to change the synagogue into a food hall.[3][4] These food hall plans were met with strong objections.[5][6][7]

  • Original façade of the synagogue
    Original façade of the synagogue
  • Original interior of the synagogue
    Original interior of the synagogue
  • The synagogue interior following devastation during WWII by the Dutch NSB
    The synagogue interior following devastation during WWII by the Dutch NSB

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Great (now Beth Shoshanna) Synagogue in Deventer". Historic Synagogues of Europe. Foundation for Jewish Heritage and the Center for Jewish Art at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. n.d. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Synagogue on the Golstraat". vvvdeventer.nl (in Dutch). Archived from the original on April 13, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Eigenaar Deventer synagoge onbekend met plan voor foodhal". De Stentor (in Dutch). Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  4. ^ "Synagoge in Deventer Golstraat wordt mogelijk foodhal". De Stentor (in Dutch). Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  5. ^ "Deventer kerken verontrust over toekomstplannen synagoge". DRTV (in Dutch). April 24, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  6. ^ "Harteloze ondernemer ruimt laatste restje Joodse gemeenschap Deventer op; verbouwt hun synagoge tot foodhal". De Dagelijkse Standaard (in Dutch). April 24, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  7. ^ Klaassen, Bas. "Deventer Joodse gemeenschap: plan foodhal in synagoge is absolute schande". De Stentor (in Dutch). Retrieved July 30, 2018.

Media related to Synagogue, Deventer at Wikimedia Commons