- Maribor Synagogue
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Maribor Synagogue
The Maribor Synagogue (Slovene: Sinagoga Maribor) is a former synagogue and current museum in the city of Maribor, Slovenia. Located in what was the center of the medieval Maribor ghetto at 4 Židovska ulica ("Jewish Street"), it is one of the oldest preserved synagogues in Europe, and one of two only left in Slovenia. It once functioned as the centre of the medieval Jewish community in Maribor, among the most prominent in the Eastern Alps-area.
Contents
History
First mentioned in 1429, the synagogue is thought to have been built sometime in the 14th century. Located next to the city walls, it was part of a complex that included a Jewish cemetery, rabbinical residence, and Talmudic school. A fortified tower nearby - part of the walls themselves - was known as the Židovski stolp ("Jewish Tower"), while a building housing ritual baths stood outside the walls on the Drava riverbank.[1]
At points throughout its history, the synagogue served as a temporary seat of the Supreme Rabbinate of Styria. In 1497, the Jews of Maribor were expelled, scattering all over Europe, especially Italy. After the expulsion, the synagogue was in 1501 turned into a Catholic church, the Church of All Saints (Slovene: Cerkev Vseh Svetnikov). The former rabbi's residence to the west of the main building became a curate office, while another, smaller building on the eastern side housed the sexton.
Exhibit case, interior of synagogueIn 1785, during the anticlerical reforms of Joseph II, the church was confiscated, deconsecrated, and converted into a military warehouse. It served in this capacity until 1811, when it was sold to private owners for use as an apartment house, which it remained until the 1980s, when the municipality of Maribor renovated it for use as an art gallery.
Maribor Synagogue in early 2009In 2001 the building was converted into a museum and cultural-exhibition venue, administered by the Regional Museum of Maribor. It houses a display on the history of the Jewish community of Maribor.
In January 2009, during the Gaza War, the exterior of the synagogue was defaced with antisemitic graffiti, including "Juden raus" and "Gaza."[2]
See also
- History of the Jews in Slovenia
- Ljubljana Synagogue
- Ptuj Synagogue
- Murska Sobota Synagogue
- Lendava Synagogue
References
- ^ Virtualni sprehod - Main square
- ^ http://www.sta.si/en/foto.php?nid=1355808 photo from Slovenian Press Agency
External links
Maribor City neighborhoods 
Landmarks Main Square, Plague Memorial, Angels, Koroška Street, Strossmayer Street, Maribor Island, Kalvarija Hill, Pyramid, Maribor Park, Maribor railway station, Drava, Pohorje, University of Maribor, Revolution Square, Maribor Bridge, Cathedral Peak, Maribor, Trieste Road, Maribor, Market Hall, Maribor, Zamorc Hotel, Hutter's Colony, Maribor, Monument of Liberation, MariborCastles, Palaces, Fortresses Maribor Town Hall, Maribor Castle, Upper Maribor Castle, Water Tower, Jewish Tower, Judgement Tower, Betnava Castle, Vetrinje Mansion, Orešje Castle, Račji Dvor ManorPlaces of Worship Maribor Cathedral, Maribor Synagogue, Franciscan Church, Capuchin Church, Maribor, Chapel of St. Urban, KošakiSettlements: Administrative centre: Maribor
Bresternica, Celestrina, Dogoše, Gaj nad Mariborom, Grušova, Hrastje, Hrenca, Jelovec, Kamnica, Košaki, Laznica, Limbuš, Malečnik, Meljski Hrib, Metava, Nebova, Pekel, Pekre, Počehova, Razvanje, Ribniško selo, Rošpoh, Ruperče, Srednje, Šober, Trčova, Vinarje, Vodole, Vrhov Dol, Za Kalvarijo, Zgornji Slemen, ZrkovciCulture NK Maribor, Stadion Ljudski Vrt, Železničar Maribor, NK Tezno, Tabor Hall, Slava Klavora Theatre, Slovene National Theatre, Lent Festival, Obzorja, Shopping, Maribor Philharmonic Orchestra, Maribor Academic Choir, Carmina Slovenica, Račji Dvor Open Air Museum, AquariumNotable people Coordinates: 46°33′24.34″N 15°38′51.92″E / 46.5567611°N 15.6477556°E
Categories:- Synagogues in Slovenia
- Former synagogues
- Synagogues preserved as museums
- Museums in Slovenia
- Maribor
- Jewish Slovenian history
- 14th-century synagogues
- Synagogue stubs
- Slovenian building and structure stubs
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