Obj. ID: 24253
Jewish Architecture Great Synagogue in Siret - Prayer hall
To the main object: Great Synagogue in Siret, Romania
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.
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.