Historical, non-existing synagogue in Przeworsk

The history of southeastern Poland is inseparably linked with the Jewish community that settled mostly in larger cities located near significant trade routes. Despite limiting privileges, in many cities Jews managed to establish their own quarters, in which synagogues were the most important structures. Only a few cases of historical Jewish religious architecture, in varying states of preservation, have survived to the present. In Przeworsk, to the north of the town hall, an impressive, masonry Jewish synagogue had stood for several centuries. The building was erected at the start of the seventeenth century and up to the Second World War constituted a significant element of the city’s spatial structure. Despite the passage of over eighty years since the demolition of the synagogue, its site has not been commemorated. This paper presents the genesis and architecture of the historical synagogue. The massing of the building, its functional and spatial layout, and its interior décor were investigated. The paper also discusses the commemoration of historical buildings, pointing to the significance of place-based identity and broadly understood cultural heritage.