Oranienburger Street Synagogue (Berlin)

The so-called New Synagogue in Oranienburger Straße, which can already be spotted from the S-Bahn with its 50m high golden dome, was once the largest Jewish house of worship in Germany. It had several thousand seats and was considered the most magnificent synagogue in Berlin. The synagogue was built according to the designs of architects Eduard Knoblauch and August Stüler and was finally completed in 1866 after seven years of construction. While the liberal house of worship was relatively spared until 1940, it was almost completely burned out after a bombing raid in November 1943. After demolition of the synagogue's main room in 1958, reconstruction of the building began thirty years later. The front building was reconstructed, but the facade facing the backyard was modernized with a large glass facade. On May 7, 1995, the building was solemnly inaugurated under the name "New Synagogue - Centrum Judaicum". The New Synagogue does not, as one might expect, primarily have the function of a Jewish house of worship. Rather, it is a place that reflects the history of Berlin Jewry. Parallel to the inauguration of the house the permanent exhibition "Tuet auf die Pforten", which shows the history of the synagogue as well as this very history of Berlin Jewry,  was opened. The associated "Foundation New Synagogue Berlin - Centrum Judaicum" is also located in the premises and is responsible, among other things, for the coordination and planning of the permanent and temporary exhibitions. Furthermore, there is a small synagogue room as well as a mikvah (a ritual immersion bath).