Choral-Synagoge

In 1901 - 1906 the building of the Choral Synagogue was built in Minsk.

The initiator of the construction was the famous physician I. Lunets.  Until 1921 the Choral Synagogue was the most important in Minsk. It was built in the Moorish style and resembled the synagogue of Budapest. The building consisted of two parts: a large-scale portal at the entrance and a ritual hall. The entrance to the synagogue was in the form of an arch, above it there was a round window called Aaron's eye. The room was very picturesque and colorful.

For three years, from 1921 to 1923, a Jewish theater was organized in the building of the synagogue, and then it was transformed into a working club, which was soon reorganized into the House of Culture. In 1926 the premises were transferred to Belgoskino. In the same year the biggest cinema of the country - "Culture" was opened here. In this cinema Leonid Utyosov, Vladimir Mayakovsky acted, the premiere of the first Belarusian movie "Lesnaya byl" was shown here. And in 1929 the first plan for the development of the national economy and culture of the BSSR was adopted here for the five-year plan.

During the Second World War the Choral Synagogue in Minsk was very much damaged. It was rebuilt in the post-war years under the project of M. Baklanov. And the building almost did not resemble the former pre-war synagogue, only the facades remained the same.

In the postwar period, the Russian Drama Theater named after M. Gorky was located in the building of the synagogue. Today you can visit the theater and see the building from inside.