PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Beneficiary: Pécsi Zsidó Hitközség

Senior officer:
Tamás Goldmann, president

Tasks related to the tender:

• Preparation of plans about heritage protection and final construction drawings related to the restoration of the Synagogue
• Acquisition of tools and accomplishment of tasks related to the Jewish memorial historical exhibition
• Restoration of the Synagogue of Pécs

Accountable project costs:
127 114 713 Ft

Jewish Communities of Pécs

The Synagogue of Pécs might just be one of the most beautiful of the ones still accessible in Hungary. The building was inaugurated in 1869, after 4 years of construction. It was built in romantic-style, and was planned by Frigyes Feszl, Károly Gerster and Lipót Kauser. They were all illustrious architects of 19th century Hungary. The construction manager was István Ivánkovics. The building next to the church is the former school of the Jewish community, which has a garden where stands the small Synagogue recently used on weekdays by the few members of the Jewish community of Pécs. There were Jewish people living in Pécs even before the Ottoman occupation, but they could only move back a long time after the Ottomans left Pécs for good.

In 1804, Márk Weiszmayer asked for the permission of the city council to be able to turn his home into a Synagogue. His request was denied. Meanwhile another Jewish citizen, Salamon Fuchs, who had a right according to the patent of tolerance from the end of the 18th century, died in Pécs. Péter Engel moved to Pécs from Bonyhád, in order to bring up the orphans, marry Fuchs’ widow, and acquire the house under todays’ 12th, Zrínyi street. From 1825 on some Jews of Pécs gathered in one of the rooms of this house to officiate. This religious function of the house was kept until the inauguration of the first Synagogue, in 1843. An organized Community was established in 1840. From the same year originates the first charter of Chevra Kadisa, and this was the year when Izrael Lőw, chief Rabbi of Baranya County, started his work. Devoutness of the members of the Community is well represented by the fact, that after only 3 years of activity they had their on Synagogue. In 1841 the Community purchased a plot in Citrom street, formerly belonging to Ferenc Vitéz, and reconstructed the house to be functioning as a Synagogue. The inauguration ceremony was held on Friday, before the usual church service, on the 20th of Eluls’ month, 5603. (15th September, 1843). Lőw chief Rabbi published a prayer book for the ceremony, which contained 9 pages in German and 6 pages in Hebrew language. This was the first, and probably the last Hebrew product of Lyceum Press of Pécs.

The church conserved its original interior, its exterior was reconstructed between 1980 and 1983. The church was opened for visitors on May 18, 1981. According to Jewish religious rules, there are no figural representations; neither on the inside nor on the outside. The main facade of the church is separated into 3 main parts, of which the middle one contains the following biblical citation in Hebrew: „House of prayer for all nations”- according to which anyone with a different religion can also visit church services. On top of the facade we can see the „stone tables of Moses”, with the numbers of the Decalogue (in Hebrew every letter refers to a number as well). Next to the stone tables there are mace ornaments. Stepping inside we can see that the nave is also made out of 3 main parts. Painted geometrical shapes together with flower- and fruit ornaments create a harmonious unit. The sanctum – the wall of which faces East, Jerusalem and is painted with stars and sun patterns – is separated from the nave with a nicely decorated bronze railing. The Ark is positioned in the sanctum, which is built up by 4 marble columns and a huge dome. In front of the Ark there is a Torah reading table, and the „Book of tears”, which contains the name of the 3022 martyrs tortured to death in Auschwitz. The „eternal lamp” which represents the constant presence of God, differs from its catholic counterpart with its David-star shape. The benches for elders of the community, the pulpit and the menorah which represents the 7 days of Creation, can also be found here. On the side walls in front of the sanctum plats with mourning bands can be seen. The Hebrew text on the plats refer the last church service of 1944, which was held with the presence of community members later becoming martyrs. On the right there is the cantors’, and on the left the rabbis’ changing room. Above them we can find the place of the choir and the organ, which is of high value in Hungarian industrial history. József Angster, manager of the freshly established Angster Organ Factory, was commissioned to build the organ. This was the first masterpiece of the factory, finished in 1869, bringing huge success for the young craftsmen. Walking outside we can find spirit lamps in glass cases on both sides of the nave, which are usually lit on death anniversaries of the deceased. In the lobby the names of former officials and founders of the Holy Association can be read on granite plats. The hand wash placed in the left corner represents the cleaning rituals of old ages. The mini clocks above it indicated the order of prayers on Saturdays and holidays. On the outside of the temple several plaques can be found in honor of victims of World War I. and Jewish martyrs.

The Jewish Community of Pécs is going to carry out the following developments in the Synagogue:

• Reparations: As part of the project, problems of leaking of the nave in a ca. 30m2 area will be solved. A new skylight would be built for easier maintenance and a new heater would also be built in the gutters to keep them from freezing.
• Organ: Within the Valuable Pécs project the organ and the organ room are going to be put in order. As a part of this, the peeling plaster is going to be removed in an area of 150m2, the slab is going to be dusted and coated with a stabilizing layer and the side walls’ plaster will be renovated in a 77m2 area. At the same time the organ is going to be removed and cleaned.
• Painting of the interior: Damaged plaster is going to be restored as well as walls.
• Restoration and moving of benches: As it is included in the plans, benches are going to be moved after being cleaned from insects and fungus. Electricity works will also be completed.
• Modification of the interior, creation of exhibition hall: Benches on the gallery, along the northern and southern main walls are going to be moved, so an exhibition hall can be created. The main theme of the exhibition is planned to be about the history of the Jewish community of Pécs, with an outlook on Baranya-county.

The exhibition is going to display the coexistence, persecution, post-war resumption and the happenings of the Jewish community of Pécs-Baranya in the last decades, by complex and interactive use of tangible assets, documentaries, film excerpts, photographs and family histories.