The Great Choral Synagogue is an active synagogue in the center of the city of Grodno. It traces its history back to the XVI century.
The first stone synagogue in Grodno was built in 1575-1580 by the Italian architect Santi Gucci, invited by Rabbi Mordechai Jaffe, a native of Prague, who had arrived in Grodno shortly before — in 1572. As a result of a fire in 1617, this synagogue was completely destroyed, but soon after the fire, the Polish king Sigismund III allowed the Jews to build a new synagogue on the site of the old one. In 1752, the main synagogue of Grodno was seen by the Prussian traveler Schlemuller, who, noting its highest status in the INCL, wrote: "I also examined the stone Jewish synagogue, quite beautiful, which is the main one after Vilna." The second synagogue lasted longer, but repeated the fate of its predecessor, burning down in 1899. The building, however, was not significantly damaged in the fire. The current building of the Great Choral Synagogue was built by Ilya Frunkin in 1902-1905 in one of the varieties of eclecticism — Moorish style on the foundations and using the walls of the previous synagogue.

During the German occupation of Grodno, the synagogue, located in the center of the ghetto, was used by the Nazis as a gathering place for Jews before being sent to concentration camps and for executions.

The rich interior decor of the building was seriously damaged during the Great Patriotic War. During the Soviet period (1944-1991), the building was used as a warehouse, and there were also creative workshops of Grodno artists.

Since 1991, the building has been returned to the Jewish religious community. Currently, the facades and interior decoration of the synagogue are being restored.

Contacts:

tel: +375 152 74 32 70; +375 29 613 33 05

www.bhsinagoga.by

bhsinagoga@tut.by

Opening hours: Monday-Sunday: 10.00-18.00

Getting there:

by public transport from
the stop "Oktyabrskaya Street"
trolleybuses № 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 15, 19;
minibus taxis No. 25tk, 35tk;

Trolleybuses No. 1, 7, 9, 13 from the Sovetskaya Ploshchad stop;
buses № 1, 3, 8, 12, 14, 21, 27, 29, 35, 41, 42, 61;
minibus taxis No. 3tk, 4tk, 7tk, 8tk, 17tk, 36tk.