Stolin Synagogue

The synagogue was built on the initiative of Rabbi Shmuel Isaac Eisenstadt and his sons. It served as the center of the Jewish community of Stolin and played an important role in the life of the Jews of the city for centuries. The synagogue has been rebuilt and renovated several times, but has retained its original architecture and interior decoration.

During the Second World War, the Stolin Synagogue was destroyed by the Nazis, but after the war, the Jewish community of Stolin began to rebuild the synagogue. The restoration was completed in 1948, and since then the synagogue has continued to function and receive believers.

Since the end of the XVIII century, there has been a tendency in the architecture of stone synagogues in the region to move away from the traditional centrist type of construction. Synagogues began to acquire the features of secular buildings, and their interiors lost their former uniqueness. The Stolin Synagogue is a prime example of these changes.

The synagogue has an almost square shape with beveled corners on the northwest side. The compact volume of the building is covered with a hip roof with a triangular pediment above the eastern wall. The facade is divided into two tiers by a horizontal belt and ends with a cornice. The window openings of the lower tier have a bow shape, and the upper one has a semicircular end. Inside, the synagogue is divided into three naves by six round columns connected by arches. On the southwestern side there was a second tier for women. The walls in the lower tier are decorated with semi—columns, and in the upper one - with single pilasters and frescoes imitating architectural plasticity. There are three entrances on the southwest side. There is no traditional bimah with pillars in the synagogue. As of 2017, the roof and frescoes have not been preserved. This synagogue is a unique monument of Jewish architecture of the transition period from Baroque to classicism in the country.

Today, the Main Synagogue in Stolin is an important cultural and religious center. It serves as a venue for worship services, educational programs, and community events. The synagogue is also a historical heritage site and attracts many tourists and researchers interested in Jewish culture and history.

The synagogue continues to play a key role in the life of the Jewish community of Stolin, preserving and passing on traditions and spiritual values from generation to generation. It also serves as an important reminder of the tragic events of the past and a symbol of the survival and rebirth of Jewish culture.