Obj. ID: 16123
Jewish Architecture  Description of the Synagogue at 19 Spartakivska St. in Bila Tserkva (Belaia Tserkov'), Ukraine, 18??

To the main object: Synagogue at 19 Spartakivska St. in Bila Tserkva, Ukraine

Name of the place: Belaia Tserkov’

Name of the synagogue: Synagogue at 19 Spartakivska St. in Bila Tserkva (Belaia Tserkov’)

Location: Ukraine; Kyivs’ka; Bila Tserkva (Belaia Tserkov’); 19 Spartakivska St.

In September 1998 architects I. Fugol, I. Czurilik, and P. Khmelevskii completed the field documentation and the measurements. O. Boiko wrote the description.

1. History of the place:

1.4.2. Foundation (existence) of synagogues, beit-midrashes, yeshibots, orphanages, old people's homes, cheders, craft schools, cemeteries, hospitals, mikvaot, burial societies, social organizations, sport clubs, publishing houses, etc.: A few Jewish buildings have been preserved within the town.  

1.4.5. Jewish life today (1998): There is an active Jewish community.

2. Topography: The building stands independent of the surrounding buildings.

3. General state of preservation: Satisfactory.

4. History of the building:  

4.2. When was it built: Around the 19th century.

5. General description of the exterior of the building:

5.1. Division into the volumes: The building contains 2 main volumes.

5.2. The main and side entrances: The main entrance is situated on the western façade and there are two secondary entrances situated on the northern facade.

5.3. Surrounding buildings: The building stands independent of the surrounding buildings.

5.4. The later extensions and reconstructed parts: A new building is next to the western facade.

 5.5. The walls: The brick walls are 75 cm in width.

5.6. The attic wall: There is no attic.

5.7. The roof: The roof is four-sloped, on wooden constructions, and covered with slate.

5.8. The general impression of the synagogue and its attachments: A modest but stylized building.

5.8.1. Impression of an expert, as an architect: The building of the synagogue stands out among the neighboring buildings because of its architectural decor.

5.8.2. Personal impression of an expert, as a human being: An interesting building.

5.9. Architectural style of the building: Late classicism.

6. General description of the ground plan:

6.1. Rectangular or oblique outline of the plan: The plan is rectangular stretches from the east to the west.

6.2. General exterior measurements: The building is 23.68 m x 15.06 m.

6.3. Orientation of the ground plan: The synagogue is traditionally oriented with Torah Ark on the eastern wall.

7. Descriptions of the facades:

7.1. General measurements of the façade: From the conventional zero up to the cornice is 4.7 m and from the conventional zero up to the top of the roof is 8.86 m.

7.2. Number of tiers of the façade: The prayer hall is one-tiered and the western synagogue volume, containing the women’s gallery and the vestibule, is two-tiered.

7.2. Description of separate tier: The doors and the windows are original to the building and some of them have been bricked up (3 windows on the western facade, 1 window on the northern facade, 1 window on the southern facade has been made.) – The prayer hall is lighted via windows: 5 windows both on the southern and on the northern facades (one window on the northern facade is bricked up), 4 windows on the eastern facade (a window has been made in Torah niche); 6 windows and a door on the southern facade of the western volume and 4 windows on the northern facade.

7.2.1.2. Outlines of the openings: The windows of the prayer hall have semicircular arches, the windows of the western facade have a rectangular outline.

7.2.1.3. Frames of the openings: The frames are wooden.

7.2.1.4. The exterior decorative framings of the openings: The exterior decorative framings of the windows look like archivolts.

7.2.2. Decorative elements of the tier: The facades are decorated with pilasters (between each window and on the corners of each façade), the intricate cornice, the archivolts of the windows, and the arched frieze.

7.2.4. Vertical division of the tier: The facades of the prayer hall are divided by pilasters.

7.3. Crowning element of the façade: All the facades are finished by the intricate brick cornice.

8. Description of the interior space, room by room: The building contains two volumes (the main prayer hall and the volume with the women’s gallery and other synagogue rooms). They are divided by the support wall.

8.1. Description of the room: The former prayer hall is slightly stretched from east to west. In the western volume steps have been added to allow access to the second tier. 

8.1.3. Pavement: The floors are wooden.

8.1.4. Walls: The walls are brick, plastered, and painted white

8.1.4.1. Location and number of the door/window openings: Location and number of the openings are the same as on the exterior.

8.1.5. Floor, spanning the room: The floors are smooth and wooden.

9. Torah Ark: In Torah niche in the eastern wall a window has been made.

10. Bimah: Bimah no longer exists.