Synagogues in Kurzeme and Semgale. 18. Century- 1941

Author: Alda Bražūne, Faculty of History and Philosophy at the University of Latvia

There are no academic research works about Jewish houses of worship in Latvia or in Kurzeme and Semgale at all. One can find only some general publications about individual synagogues written by journalists, not scholars, which make the matter more important to study.

The materials I used were sources from Latvian State Historical Archives, the fund of the Department of Churches and Confessions and funds of Document archive of State Inspection for Heritage protection. There were also some publications, but one of the important materials for this research is the book-album "Latvia. Synagogues and Rabbis. 1918–1940".

Due to the documents taken from the fund of the Department of Churches and Confessions of the Latvian State Historical Archives (see table No. 1) one can come to a conclusion that in the period between two world wars in Kurzeme and Semgale there were one third of all Latvian Jewish houses of worship – 36 synagogues and 24 Jewish houses of prayer (in the same time in Latvia there were approximately 72 synagogues and 136 houses of prayer).

Most of the houses of worship used by the Jews of Latvia in the interwar period were constructed prior to WWI. They differed in style, from splendid synagogues in the architectural style of Neo-Romanesque or Neo-Renaissance, to the houses of prayer often located in shabby old wooden houses bearing witness to either the former prosperity or the deplorable financial position of respective Jewish community. After the war many of those buildings fell into a statne of decay or lay in ruins.

Many new houses of prayer were built during the period of Latvian sovereignty and old ones were renovated. In Kurzeme and Semgale were built 6 and renovated 33 (more than 50%) houses of worship. It was because in the fiscal year 1925–1926, the Saeima (Parliament) of Latvia allotted 20 000 LVL for the restoration of synagogues and houses of prayer destroyed or damaged during the war. Between 1927 and 1928, an additional sum of l0 000 LVL was granted. The prominent Jewish public figure, deputy of Saeima Mordechai Dubin greatly contributed to that effort.

In the interwar period most of houses of worship (53%) in Kurzeme and Semgale were stone buildings, 27% were wooden houses and 20% – brick buildings (see table No. 2).

The first synagogue in Kurzeme and Semgale was built in Aizpute. Jews settled there in the 16th century, the community was formed in the 18th century, and it was the first one in Courland. But the Great synagogue was constructed in 1751 and was stone building.

Preserved synagogue buildings in Valdemārpils, Sabile and other cities are cultural monuments. Synagogue in Sabile was built in 1875 in the style of late baroque. Classicism style synagogues buildings in Ventspils and Talsi also were built in the second part of 19th century.

Synagogue in Valdemārpils

In the middle of 19th century in Sasmaka (later renamed as Valdemārpils) were as many inhabitants as in Talsi, 84% of them were Jews. It was because till 1799 Jews could not settle in cities of Kurzeme, but Valdemārpils belonged to independent Piltene district.

In the very center of Valdemārpils, next to Lutheran church we can find the group of three buildings – winter synagogue, summer synagogue and auxiliary building. All of them are national cultural monuments. Winter synagogue was built in the 18th century in the style of baroque, other building were constructed shortly afterwards. At the moment there are store, depositary and apartments. Despite the fact the three synagogue buildings in Valdemārpils are cultural monuments we cannot find more information about them.

Synagogue in Bauska, Sudmalu 35

After 1797 in Bauska Jews mainly settled in the right bank of river Mēmele and made there something like a Jewish suburb, named Slaboda. Jewish Community there developed in the beginning of 19 century, shortly afterwards amount of Jews increased rapidly.

In 1835 in Bauska were two synagogues – one stone building and one from wood. In the photos of 1930-ies we can see the ruins of third synagogue, which was built from brick, but nobody knows the exact time of its construction.

In Latvia historically synagogues never was built in radically different, particular style and the architecture of synagogues fit well with traditions and historical styles of Latvia. Stone building of synagogue in Bauska was built in 1830 next to town hall. Main facade of the two-storey building was made with the accents of pilasters, projective rizalite and huge low-pitched pediment. Art historian V. Pengerots said that building was made in the forms of provincial empire style. It is true because building was nothing more than localization of strictly standardized Nicolay I sample facades. The author of buildings design is not known; probably it was one of the Courland province architect F. Shultz. In the first part of 19th century he built and reconstructed a lot of significant public buildings in Bauska.

Inside the synagogue was wide parish room, which was encircled (from three sides) by empora – grilled loft grounded on pillars; it was female area during service. At the fourth wall was located Aron Kodesh – huge, splendid four story construction. The silhouette of Aron Kodesh was very similar to baroque altars in Courland. Only extremely varied openwork wood engravings on the ornamental and constructional parts of the Aron Kodesh testified about the attendance of Jewish tradition. In the openwork exquisite margin ornament between components in the ornamentation of acanthi, rokaja and ribbon one could see figures of lions and dogs, wild ducks and storks. There were not figures of people like in Catholic Churches as it is not Jewish tradition. Atop of Aron Kodesh were bicephalous aureate eagle.

Aron Kodesh was constructed in 1830ties. According to eyewitnesses Aron Kodesh was constructed by old Jewish craftsman Shapsha (or Shafia). He made it in three years and died shortly afterwards in Bauska. He was an author of one another Aron Kodesh in synagogue somewhere in Poland, which burnt down during the Great War. Aron Kodesh in Bauska's synagogue was outstanding artistic property.

The virtuosi wood engravings of Aron Kodesh were complemented with impactful paintwork in blue, green, red and yellow. Board ceiling was colored in navy blue with accents of off-white clouds and golden stars. The author of paintings was Josef Erlich (Ereicb), he made them in 1832. Synagogue was blown up during Second World War.

Synagogue in Sabile

At the time of the Russian Empire (1795–1918) Jews lived in Sabile since 1799. In 1881 62.7% of inhabitants (or 873 people) were Jews.

Synagogue in Sabile was built in 1890 for the Jewish community but at the moment it is up-to-date Centre of Art and Culture. For the last time amount of Jewish inhabitants diminished. At the moment there is no Jewish community in Sabile, which would like to regain building. On 6 August 1941, 240 Jews were killed in the synagogue, ever since then synagogue was not used as sacred building.

From WW2 till 1991 it was gym-hall, in 1991 – storehouse, but since 1992 it was derelict, now it has been reconstructed. Memorial tablet gives proof of the original meaning of the building.

Synagogue is a part of town planning national reserve, city Sabile historical centre and a part of protected cultural reserve "Abava". Building is national cultural monument.

Building is one nave rectangular edifice with span roof. Its main facade is in the style of eclectic, in the shapes of the baroque (late baroque). Four pilasters divide facade to three parts. On top of the middle part is triangular pediment with small windows at the over part, round windows at the central and two big windows at the nether part. Side facades are more common.

Synagogue is significant city environment formative element.  As described before – the architectonic image is simple, but monumental; the details of facade are scrupulous. After the reconstruction in year of 2000 the building became important tourism object. It was possibility to preserve building as memorial sign of tragic fate of Jewish community in Sabile. For sure it is very important that building is dedicated to culture, not commerce.

The similar situation is with synagogue in Kuldīga. In the last years synagogue was reconstructed and adapted for concert hall, previously there was cinema Kurzeme. Before WWII in Kuldīga were approximately one thousand Jews, now only some five. There were five synagogues and houses of prayer buildings in Jelgava, but now there is only one, and it is used as apartment house.

The situation of most synagogues and houses of prayer in Kurzeme and Semgale and also in all Latvia except Riga is really pitiful. For further researches it is not enough to batch information from archives and funds, there is acute need for inspection of all preserved buildings, making surveys, drawing the plans, asking questions to local inhabitants and taking photos. To gather information and make a data base for research work and for memory of perished communities.

Table No. 1. Jews in Courland and Zemgale

Table No. 2. List of Synagogues and Houses of Prayer in Kurzeme and Zemgale