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Obj. ID: 14033  Wooden Synagogue in Bechhofen, Germany

© Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People (CAHJP), Photographer: Evers, Alfred, 1933

Synagogue in Bechhofen was probably the largest wooden synagogue in Germany. It was painted by Sussman in 1732 - 1733 (Davidovich, 13). The dimensions of the prayer hall are 8.5 m x 9.1 m x 6.1 m (according to Davidovich).

The ceiling of the prayer hall was a wooden barrel vault. The vault of the synagogue was covered with continuous floral decoration interlaid with small animals and birds. In the center of the vault there was a medallion with an inscription.

The southern and northern walls of the prayer hall were divided into two tiers, and separated from the vault by a cornice containing an inscription. Both tiers were vertically divided by panels.

The central tier of the walls was lined by text tables framed by wide strip of decorative bordering. Medallions were placed above the semicircular windows on the inner southern and northern walls. A seven-branched menorah was painted in the central panel of the southern wall. This Temple menorah was depicted with three branches on either side of a central branch, all of which were lit with flame. A verse from the Psalm 37:10 was inscribed above the menorah, and a verse from Psalm 67 inside the menorah.

A shewbread Table was painted on the central panel of the northern wall. Twelve round loaves of bread on lattices stood upon a table with a tablecloth.

Decorative panels with floral ornamentation lined the lower tier.

Eastern Wall

The eastern wall was divided into three tiers, each of which were vertically divided into panels containing text, symbolical images, and ornamentation.

The  baroque-style carved wooden Torah ark was located in the center of the eastern wall. The Torah ark was placed within a wide decorative wall panel filled with floral ornamentation. Above the ark was a painted medallion containing text and framed by floral ornamentation and a painted curtain.

The upper tier was a semicircular spandrel of the vault, which was vertically divided into panels. Two heraldic lions flanked the semicircular window. Vases with etrogs, lulaves, fruit and flowers were depicted in the panels directly to the north and south of each lion. A shofar and trumpets were depicted above the vases on the northern part. A unicorn was depicted in the northern corner of the spandrel.

15 image(s)

sub-set tree:

Name/Title
Wooden Synagogue in Bechhofen | Unknown
Object Detail
Eastern wall
Date
1732-1733
Synagogue active dates
Reconstruction dates
Historical Origin
Unknown
Community
Congregation
Unknown|
Site
Unknown
School/Style
Unknown|
Period
Unknown
Period Detail
Material/Technique
Material Stucture
Material Decoration
Material Bonding
Material Inscription
Material Additions
Material Cloth
Material Lining
Tesserae Arrangement
Density
Colors
Construction material
Measurements
Height
Length
Width
Depth
Circumference
Thickness
Diameter
Weight
Axis
Panel Measurements
Iconographical Subject
Unknown |
Condition
Extant
Documented by CJA
Surveyed by CJA
Present Usage
Present Usage Details
Condition of Building Fabric
Architectural Significance type
Historical significance: Event/Period
Historical significance: Collective Memory/Folklore
Historical significance: Person
Architectural Significance: Style
Architectural Significance: Artistic Decoration
Urban significance
Significance Rating
Languages of inscription
Unknown
Shape / Form
0
Ornamentation
Custom
Contents
Codicology
Scribes
Script
Number of Lines
Ruling
Pricking
Quires
Catchwords
Hebrew Numeration
Blank Leaves
Direction/Location
Façade (main)
Endivances
Location of Torah Ark
Location of Apse
Location of Niche
Location of Reader's Desk
Location of Platform
Temp: Architecture Axis
Arrangement of Seats
Location of Women's Section
Direction Prayer
Direction Toward Jerusalem
Coin
Coin Series
Coin Ruler
Coin Year
Denomination
Signature
Colophon
Scribal Notes
Watermark
Hallmark
Group
Group
Group
Group
Group
Trade Mark
Binding
Decoration Program
Summary and Remarks
Suggested Reconsdivuction
History/Provenance
Main Surveys & Excavations
Bibliography
Harburger, Theodor, Die Inventarisation jüdischer Kunst und Kulturdenkmäler in Bayern, herausgegeben von den Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People, Jerusalem und dem Jüdischen Museum Franken - Fürth & Schnaittach, Fürth: Das Jüdische Museum, 1998, p.92-105 תערוכת אליעזר זוסמן מבראד: צייר בתי-כנסת בגרמניה במאה הי"ח: תצלומים, רישומים, ספרים, מאמרים, תעודות, מוזיאון הארץ (תל-אביב), )תל-אביב : המוזיאון, תשכ"ח 1968( דוידוביץ, דוד, אמנות ואמנים ב בבתי-כנסת של פולין : מקורות, בתי-כנסת של פולין: מקורות, סגנונות, השפעות, [תל-אביב] : הקבוץ המאוחד, תשמ"ב תמר שדמי, הכתובות שעל קירות בתי הכנסת במזרח אירופה – מקורותיהן, משמעות ותפקידן בעיצוב תפיסת החלל ועבודת הקודש, חיבור לשם קבלת תואר "דוקטור לפילוסופיה" (אוניברסיטת בר אילן, רמת גן, אייר תשעא [2011]) ע. 250-259
Short Name
Full Name
Volume
Page
Type
Documenter
Boris Khaimovich |
Researcher
Boris Khaimovich |
Architectural Drawings
|
Computer Reconsdivuction
|
Section Head
|
Language Editor
Carmen Echevarria | 2016
Donor
|
Negative/Photo. No.