Obj. ID: 16127
Jewish Architecture  Description of the Synagogue at 8 Vorovskoho St. in Berdychiv (Berdyczów, Berdichev), Ukraine

To the main object: Synagogue at 8 Vorovskoho St. in Berdychiv, Ukraine

Name of the place: BERDICHEV

Name of the synagogue: Synagogue 8 Vorovskogo St. in Berdychiv (Berdyczow, Berdichev)

Location: Ukraine; Zhitomir region; BERDICHEV; 8 Vorovskogo Street

In 1998 architects I. Fugol, Y. Churilik, P. Khmelevski completed the field documentation and the measurements.

1. History of the Place:

1.4.2. Founding of synagogues, batei-midrash, yeshibot, orphanages, retirement homes, heders, craft schools, cemeteries, hospitals, mikvaot, burial societies, social organizations, sport clubs, publishing houses, etc: 3 synagogue buildings have been preserved and one of them is still active.

1.4.5. Jewish life today (1998): There currently is a Jewish community.

2. Topography: The synagogue is located in the center of the town. To the north-east there is another synagogue building.

3. General state of preservation: The building has been preserved mostly without changes.

4. History of the building:

4.2. When it was built: The end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century.

4.5. Periods of reconstructions: The western volume was added later.

5. General description of the exterior of the building: The facades of the prayer hall are finished with a molded cornice on consoles. The surfaces of the walls are divided with pilasters and between the pilasters windows are situated. On the eastern facade the central segment has a niche which is adequate to the Torah niche.

5.1. Division into the volumes: Two volumes (the eastern volume and the newer western volume).

5.2. The main and side entrances: The only entrance is positioned on the northern wall. The original entrance to the prayer hall was on the western hall.

5.3. Surrounding buildings: The synagogue is surrounded by other buildings. There is a building to the south that does not function in correspondence with the functions of the synagogue.

5.4. The later extensions and/or reconstructed parts of the building: The western volume was added later.

5.5. The walls: The walls are made of unplastered brick. The decoration of the facades is in color: the surfaces of the walls are blue with white architectural framing.

5.6. The attic wall: material, technique, finishing: There is no attic.

5.7. The roof: The synagogue is covered by 4-sloped tin roof.

5.8.1. Impression of an expert, as an architect: The building is stylish with a décor that is consistent with a synagogue building.

5.8.2. Personal impression of an expert, as a human being: An interesting building that stands out from the neighboring buildings.

5.9. Architectural style of the building in each of its constructive periods: Art Nouveau. 

6. General description of the ground plan:

6.1. The shape of the plan outline: The building is based on a rectangular plan that stretches from east to west. The newer western volume contains a vestibule with stairs to a dining room and a kitchen.

6.2. General exterior measurements: The length of the eastern façade is 12.84 m, the northern façade is 19.02 m, the western façade is 14.74 m, and the southern façade is 19.04 m.

6.3. Orientation of the ground plan: Traditional orientation (facing east).

7. Description of the facades: The walls are made of unplastered brick. The framing of the facades is in color: the surfaces of the walls are blue with white architectural decor. All facades are similar with the exception of the parts of western volume, which was added later.

7.1. The Eastern Façade:

7.1.1. General measurements of the façade: The length is 12.84 m. The height from the conditional zero up to the roof is 9.18 m and the height from the conditional zero up to the top of the cornice is 5.81 m

7.1.2. Number of tiers of the façade: Two tiers.

7.1.1.1. Door/window openings: There are 4 windows on the eastern facade corresponding to the prayer hall.

7.1.1.2. Outlines of the openings: The openings are rectangular with semicircular tops.

7.1.1.3. Frames of the openings: The panes of the windows are stained-glass. On the outside, the stained-glass windows are covered with metal nets. Each net is shaped with Stars of David and a metal menorah.

7.1.1.4. The exterior decorative framings of the openings: The windows are decorated with brick archivaults, key-stones, and sills.

7.1.2.4. Vertical division of the tier: The facades are vertically divided with 6 pilasters (one on either side of each window and the central segment). The central segment has a niche.

7.1.3. Crowning element of the façade: The facades of the prayer hall are finished with a molded cornice on consoles.

7.2-3. The Northern Façade:

Descriptions of the façade: The northern façade includes 2 sections that correspond to the original synagogue building (the eastern section) and the newer western addition (western section). The length of the entire façade is 19.02 m.

7.2. The Eastern Section of the Northern Façade:

7.2.1. General measurements of the façade: The length of the eastern section is 13.44 m. The height from the conditional zero up to the roof is 9.18 m and the height from the conditional zero up to the top of the cornice is 5.81 m.

7.2.2. Number of tiers of the façade: Two tiers.

7.2.1.1. Door/window openings: There are 4 windows on the eastern section of the northern façade.

7.2.1.2. Outlines of the openings: The openings are rectangular with semicircular tops.

7.2.1.3. Frames of the openings: They are the same as the windows on the eastern façade.

7.2.1.4. The exterior decorative framings of the openings: The windows are decorated with brick archivaults, key-stones, and sills.

7.2.2.4. Vertical division of the tier: The façade is divided by 6 pilasters. There is one on either side of each window and one situated between the eastern and western sections.

7.2.3. Crowning element of the façade: The façade is finished with a molded cornice on consoles.

7.3. The Western Section of the Northern Façade:

7.3.1. General measurements of the façade: The length is 5.58 m. The height from the conditional zero up to the roof is 5.81 m and the height from the conditional zero up to the top of the cornice is 3.23 m.

7.3.2. Number of tiers of the façade: Two tiers.

7.3.2.1.1. Door/window openings: There is one window and one door.

7.3.2.1.2. Outlines of the openings: Both openings are rectangular

7.3.2.1.3. Frames of the openings: The frames are simple.

7.3.2.1.4. The exterior decorative framings of the openings: There is no decoration.

7.3.3. Crowning element of the façade:

7.4. The Western Façade:

7.4.1. General measurements of the façade: The length is 12.84 m. The height from the conditional zero up to the roof is 9.18 m and the height from the conditional zero up to the top of the cornice is 5.81 m

7.4.2. Number of tiers of the façade: Two tiers.

7.4.2.1.1. Door/window openings: There are two windows.

7.4.2.1.2. Outlines of the openings: They are rectangular.

7.4.2.1.3. Frames of the openings: There are no frames and the panes are glass.

7.4.2.1.4. The exterior decorative framings of the openings: There is no exterior decoration.

7.4.3. Crowning element of the façade: The roof extends a little past the wall.

7.5-6. The Southern Façade:

7.5. The Eastern Section of the Southern Façade:

7.5.1. General measurements of the façade: The length is 13.59 m. The height from the conditional zero up to the roof is 9.18 m and the height from the conditional zero up to the top of the cornice is 5.81 m.

7.5.2. Number of tiers of the façade: Two tiers.

7.5.2.1.1. Door/window openings: There are 4 windows on the eastern section of the southern façade.

7.5.2.1.2. Outlines of the openings: The openings are rectangular with semicircular tops.

7.5.2.1.3. Frames of the openings: They are the same as the windows on the eastern façade.

7.5.2.1.4. The exterior decorative framings of the openings: The windows are decorated with brick archivaults, key-stones, and sills.

7.5.2.4. Vertical division of the tier: The façade is divided by 6 pilasters. There is one on either side of each window and one situated between the eastern and western sections.

7.5.3. Crowning element of the façade: The facades are finished with a molded cornice on consoles.

7.6. The Western Section of the Southern Façade:

7.6.1. General measurements of the façade: The length is 5.58 m. The height from the conditional zero up to the roof is 5.81 m and the height from the conditional zero up to the top of the cornice is 3.23 m.

7.6.2. Number of tiers of the façade: Two tiers.

7.6.2.1.1. Door/window openings: There are no windows.

7.6.3. Crowning element of the façade: The roof extends a little past the wall.

8. Description of the interior space, room by room: The interior space is divided into two main volumes. A vestibule and a prayer hall. There are 2 staircases in the vestibule. One that leads up to a kitchen, dining room, and women’s gallery, and one that leads to the basement.

8.1.3. Pavement: The prayer hall has a smooth floor.

8.1.4. Walls: The walls are painted white and covered with varied floral accents and murals.

8.1.4.3. Frames of the openings: The windows are situated in deep niches.

8.1.4.7. Vertical division of the wall: Along the northern wall, the western wall and the southern wall wooden galleries supported on wooden columns.

8.1.5.1. Decorative elements of the ceiling: The ceiling under the galleries is wooden. The uppermost ceiling is plastered. The ceiling of the kitchen and dining room is tiled and the tiles are decorated with Stars of David.

9. Torah Ark: The Torah ark is situated in the center of the building, as is traditional.

9.1. General state of preservation: State of preservation is good.

9.2. Location of niche(s): The semicircular Torah niche is situated in the center of the eastern wall. The niche is located at a height of .46 m from the floor.

9.3. Measurements of the niche(s): The width of the niche is 1.47 m and the height is 3.92 m.

9.4. Architectural elements attached to the niche: Wooden stairs and handrails lead to the wooden Torah ark. The Torah ark is hidden with parokhet and kaporet.

9.7. Torah ark:

9.8. Decoration of Torah ark: Above the niche there is a painting of the tablets of the Ten Commandments that is flanked by two lions. The lions are supporting a platform upon which two hands are supporting a Star of David.

10. Bimah:

10.1. General state of preservation: The bimah is in good condition.

10.2. Location, connection with the architectural constructions, material, construction, measurements: The bimah sits in the center of the prayer hall facing the east and is elevated upon two stairs. 4 wooden round columns and a wooden fence, painted with white oil paint, surround the bimah.

11. Other decorative elements: The women’s gallery is obscured with curtains. There are wooden benches in the prayer hall.