The Beautification Society For a Beautiful Ostrava is preparing a beautification of the site of the Přívoz synagogue on Monday, September 23, at 6:00 PM. At the same time, it will unveil the second issue of the bulletin Beautiful Ostrava. In addition to the beautification of the synagogue, a cultural program awaits you at the RUBRUM gallery, including readings from Ostravian Jewish authors by literary critics Pavel Hruška, Iva Málková, and Martin Tomášek. The musical performance will be provided by Jiří Macháček, and Jewish specialties will be prepared by the owners of the RUBRUM gallery, Ivan and Eli Motýl.

From the history of the Přívoz synagogue:

At the beginning of the 20th century, the sizable Jewish community established itself not only in Moravian Ostrava but also in the surrounding villages, prompting the decision to build their own temples, or at least prayer houses, in their areas of activity. In Přívoz, which was elevated to city status in 1900, the Přívoz Temple Society (Přivozer Tempel-Verein) succeeded in acquiring a plot of land near a busy thoroughfare – Nádražní street. In June 1904, it was gifted to them by the municipality itself. The representative building was completed and consecrated later that same year.
The sanctuary set in the garden was characterized by a number of historicizing elements – Romanesque grouped windows or a combination of red brick and light plaster. The Star of David placed at the tops of the towers, as well as the Hebrew inscription above the entrance, clearly identified the impressive temple.
The synagogue remained significant even after the establishment of what is known as Greater Ostrava in 1924 when Přívoz became part of Moravian Ostrava. However, the year 1939 arrived. After the establishment of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, the ostravian synagogues became the first targets of repression. The temple in Ostrava-Přívoz was burned down by antisemites on June 9, 1939. Throughout 1940, it was leveled to the ground.

Source: Archive of the City of Ostrava, Beautification Society For a Beautiful Ostrava

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