The central synagogue in Stolyn (Brest region) that is famous as a white synagogue is concerned with the name of Osher Stolynsky, the son of the religious leader Aaron the Great.

A HASID CENTRE IN THE SYNAGOGUE

A big synagogue of Stolyn hasids were built in 1792. At that time, there were 400 Jews in Stolyn. The synagogue was the spirit and cultural centre of Jewish Stolyn community. The town was considered to be the centre of Hasid movement in the Polish State, after in The Northwestern Area and The Russian Empire.

Hasidism is a learning of piety in Judaism implying emotional perception of the God.

Stolyn got a special influence with the arrival of the just man Osher Perlov who was changed by his son Aaron the second. He is concerned with the legend about horrible epidemic in Ukraine.

THE LEGEND ABOUT THE SACRIFICE OF OSHER JR.

According to the legend the son of Aaron the second went to infected area to sacrifice his own life. He carried just one thing with him. It was a funeral shroud. He prayed to stop the epidemic and to sacrifice his life. After his death plague stopped.

The Jewish community consisted of 800 members in 1847, but after 50 years 2, 5 thousands Jews lived there (fr om the population of 3, 3 thousand people). There were Jewish schools, three praying houses. The Big White Synagogue influenced the spirit and cultural life of the people a lot.

ARCHITECTURAL PECULIARITIES

The Big Stone Synagogue is considered to be the only monument of synagogue architecture of the 18th century in baroque style with classical elements. The features of the building:

It’s a two-storey building of rectangular form.

• The facade has sloped corners and a low gable, cornices between floors.
• The first floor has chorus windows with the imitation of stone.
• Arched windows of the second floor have wall piers at corners that create niches.
• The gambrel construction of the roof has different slopes.

THE FIRE OF 1827

The White Synagogue burnt and was rebuilt several times. During the fire of 1827, the place where the Torah was read was destroyed. 40 rolls in silver cases were burnt.

The synagogue was rebuilt again in the first part of the 20th century.  It lost its grace and popularity only after the Second World War.

THE GHETTO IN STOLYN

At the beginning of the war, there were 8, 5 thousands of Jews in Stolyn among the total population of 12, 5 thousands.

Stolyn was occupied by fascists on the 12th July, 1941. Jewish ghettos were created in spring of 1942, but executions started from the first days of the occupation. The prisoners of the ghetto were 12, 5 thousands of the Jews. On the 11-12th September, all the people in the ghetto were killed in the forest in 3 km from the town. The monument was set up at the place in 1993.

THE VALUE OF THE SYNAGOGUE

Unfortunately we can’t say whether it’s white or grey. It’s just a ruin penetrated with the spirit of history and Hasid secrets. There are still some fresco and the niche wh ere sacred rolls were stored.Stolyn synagogue is waiting for its rebirth.