Strained Every Nerve

Dohány Street Synagogue

      

      Dohány Street Synagogue,also knows ans the Great Synagogue is a historical building in the 7th district of Budapest, Hungary. It is the largest Synagogue in Europe and one of the largest in the world with a capacity of 2,964 seats. It was built between 1854-1859 with the decorations based on Islamic models from North Africa and medieval Spain.  The Dohány Street Synagogue complex consists of the Great Synagogue, the Heroes' temple, the graveyard, the Memorial and the Jewish Museum. The street itself carries strong Holocaust implications, for instance on February 3 1939 the synagogue was bombed by the Hungarian pro-Nazi and was used as a base for German Radio during the World War II. During the Communist era the damaged structure became again a prayer house for the much diminished Jewish community. Its restoration started in 1991 and ended in 1998. The restoration was financed by the state and the private donations. Ultimately Jewish people did all they can do in order to build and restore the temple and carry out their beliefs.