The Beth Yaakov Synagogue, also the Great Synagogue or the Grande Synagogue, is a Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at 11 Place de la Synagogue, Geneva, in the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland. Located in the heart of Geneva, the synagogue was completed in 1859 for the Ashkenazi Jewish community, which comprised about 200 people at the time of the synagogue's construction.[2]
| Beth Yaakov Synagogue | |
|---|---|
 The Grande Synagogue in 2011 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Judaism |
| Rite | Nusach Ashkenaz |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Synagogue |
| Ownership | Communauté Israélite de Genève |
| Leadership | Rabbi Jacob Tolédano |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 11 Place de la Synagogue, Geneva, Canton of Geneva |
| Country | Switzerland |
  Location of the synagogue in the Canton of Geneva | |
| Geographic coordinates | 46°12′10″N 6°08′27″E / 46.20278°N 6.14083°E |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Jean-Henri Bachofen |
| Type | Synagogue architecture |
| Style | |
| Date established | c. 1857 (as a congregation) |
| Groundbreaking | 1857 |
| Completed | 1859 |
| Specifications | |
| Dome(s) | One |
| Materials | Brick |
| [1] | |
Architecture
editDesigned by the Swiss architect, Jean Henri Bachofen, the synagogue is a mix of Moorish Revival and Byzantine Revival architectural styles. At the entrance one can see Moorish style arches. The bimah, for reading of the Torah, is located in front of the Torah ark, opposite the main entrance. This style was adopted later in the history of world synagogues, since the bimah was usually built in the middle of the congregation. Women have their own sections on both sides of the prayer hall. The building has been registered as a Swiss historic monument because of its architecture.[3]
Gallery
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Cardboard stereoscopic disc with photos of the synagogue in Geneva, c. 1860, in the collection of the Jewish Museum of Switzerland -
Rabbi's entrance
See also
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References
edit- ^ "Great (Beth Yaacov) Synagogue in Geneva". Historic synagogues of Europe. Foundation for Jewish Heritage and the Center for Jewish Art at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. n.d. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
- ^ "Grande Synagogue, Geneva". Sacred destinations. 2024. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
- ^ Ghiuzeli, Haim F. (n.d.). "Beth Yaakov Synagogue, Geneva, Switzerland". ANU: Museum of the Jewish People. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
External links
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Media related to Beth Yaacov Synagogue (Geneva) at Wikimedia Commons
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