Mogilev. Synagogue at Shkolishche.

The economic and cultural heyday of the city of Mogilev falls on the 17th century. Trade and handicrafts have made Mogilev a wealthy city. Jews are beginning to settle in the city, who also occupied their niche in the city's economy. And at this time, a Jewish district called Shkolishche, or Jewish Shkolishche, appears on the banks of the Dnieper. During the time of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Jews were forbidden to settle in the Upper Town in the first line of the city's fortifications. And the magistrate set aside an entire block for Jews near the Dnieper River, where Jews settled compactly. A synagogue was built there in the 17th century, and a school was opened at it. Apparently, the name of this block came from the school.

Over time, several synagogues have already been built on the Shkolishche. But the most beautiful and most famous was the wooden synagogue, built in the 17th century. And in the 18th century, the interior of the building was painted by an artist from the city of Slutsk, Ayzik Segal. According to one version, this is the great-grandfather of Marc Chagall. These colored murals depicted mythical creatures, plants, cities, and Hebrew inscriptions. Unfortunately, this synagogue was demolished in Soviet times in 1938.

The stone synagogue, which was built in the early 20th century, has survived to our time. It was not only a synagogue, but also a cheder, or elementary Jewish school. In Soviet times, the building fell into disrepair. But a few years ago, the premises were bought by a private owner and now there is a reconstruction.