The Liubavickaja Synagogue is the only example of authentic Jewish prayer buildings of the early 20th century in Viciebsk.

The Liubavickaja Synagogue in Viciebsk was built by the Hasidic community of the city on vulica Iĺjinskaja in the early 20th century. At that time, Jews made up more than half of the city's residents, and Viciebsk itself was among the top ten cities in the Russian Empire with the densest Jewish population.

The first synagogue appeared in Viciebsk in the 17th century. Gradually, Viciebsk became one of the largest centers of Hasidism in Belarus. At the beginning of the 20th century, the number of Jewish prayer houses reached fifty and they were mostly wooden.

The Liubavickaja Synagogue was one of the three largest and stone-built synagogues. The building of the synagogue was two-storeyed and rectangular in the main volume. Above the main entrance there was a superstructure. According to archive information, the father of Mark Šahal visited this prayer house, the artist's family lived on the next street.

After the Bolshevik Revolution, the Liubavickaja Synagogue, like the others, was closed. Since 1923, its building was an aeroclub, and later it was the House of Culture. During the World War II, the former synagogue was used as a warehouse. After the military events, the building was preserved in a very damaged form and was abandoned.

The Liubavickaja Synagogue is the only example of authentic Jewish prayer buildings in Viciebsk. Now the building is in a state of disrepair. Only the walls, facade and partially lift slabs have been preserved from its original appearance. No work is being conducted to restore the synagogue, but this does not prevent those who are interested in Jewish culture and architectural features from coming to see the building, to assess its historical value and significance.

Publication date: 15.02.2021.

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