Img. ID: 176350
The Great Synagogue in Siret was apparently built in 1840 (Streja & Schwarz p. 106) and reconstructed later. It is situated in the very center of the town. The two-story building faces the street with southwest facade and has a bricked gallery on its northwestern side.
The prayer hall is oriented towards southeast; a women's section is situated at its northwestern side, in the upper floor, and is connected to the hall through small semicircular windows. The windows of the prayer hall are situated in the upper tier, while the lower tier of the walls has elongated niches. Two-tier curved wooden Torah ark is situated in the center of the southeastern wall and accessed by stairs.
The prayer hall is divided by an arcade of huge pilars into two parts, each ine has its separate ceiling decoration. The octagonal bimah is situated between the central piers. The capitals of the piers are decorated by paintings of bascet with flowers.
The decoration of the ceiling of the southeastern part of the hall is divided into three panels. The central one depicts a kind of rotunda, through which blu sky with swallows is seen. In the four corners of the panel, four animals from Mishna Avot are depicted. Two side panels depict blue sky with six-pointed stars. The space between the panels is decorated by garlands.
The decoration of the ceiling of the northwestern part of the hall is also divided into three panels. The central one depicts an oval opening through which blue sky with six-pointed stars is seen. The large border of the opening shows the signs of Zodiac (Aries is depicted on the side closer to the Torah ark, the signs should be viewed clockwise). The side panels show a kind of tent. The space between the panels is decorated by garlands.
Two niches on the northwestern wall of the prayer hall are decorated with Biblical scenes. The northern niche has a depiction of trees in a field with hanging musical instruments (Ps. 137); the southern one shows Mount Sinai with the Decalogue staning on its top in raditating beams of light. The vaults of the niches are painted as sky with six-pointed stars. Lists of Siret Jews who perished in Transnistria are situated inthe niches.