<div>Synagogue in Brno is halfway through restoration, today they welcomed a new curtain.</div>

Brno - The Brno synagogue is halfway through its overall restoration. A symbolic milestone today was the unveiling of a new curtain that covers the holy ark with the Torah scrolls. It was created in the United States based on the artistic design by Marek Podwal, who is also the author of the complete set of textiles in the Old-New Synagogue in Prague. He will also design seven curtains and covers for Brno.
    The curtain presented today features a motif of a menorah, the seven-branched candelabrum, which Podwal described as the oldest Jewish symbol. Flowers grow from the branches of the candelabrum, referencing verses from the biblical psalms, the author noted. Pavel Fried, the vice-chairman of the Jewish Community of Brno, emphasized that any artist cannot design a curtain for the synagogue. It is not just about colors or artistic impact. "The author must embody a deep understanding of Judaism into the design," said Fried.
    The functionalist building on Skořepka Street is currently the only fully functioning synagogue in Moravia. During World War II, when it served as a warehouse, it lost all its furnishings. After the war, surviving Jews began to use the holy ark again, but the furnishings were likely acquired from other prayer houses, and therefore did not match the original style.
    The Jewish Community of Brno has long been striving for complete reconstruction and restoration of the synagogue. Everything should correspond strictly to the functionalist style, stated the community's chairman, Jáchym Kanarek. A five million koruna grant from European funds enabled the implementation of approximately half of the plans. The funds were used for a new roof, moisture control of the masonry, restoration of the interior painting as well as the external facade, and replacement of the utilities.
    The linked project also has a five million budget and will end in April 2016. Its aim is to return the interior to its original form known from period photographs. The funds come from so-called Norwegian funds. Craftsmen will restore the wooden floors in the women's gallery and in the small prayer room, and will also create replicas of the original benches, floorings, and metal chandeliers. The second phase of the restoration also includes the production of the remaining textiles.
    Before World War II, Brno had a Jewish community numbering in the thousands, which significantly contributed to the cultural and industrial development of the city. Many Jews fled abroad to escape the Nazis, and thousands fell victim to the Holocaust. Currently, the Jewish community in Brno comprises about 300 people.
    The architectural project of the synagogue on Skořepka was created by Otto Eisler. The building started serving the Jewish religious community Agudas Achim in 1936. Since 1945, it has been continuously in operation.