Jews did not settle in Szeged until the end of the 18th century. The first synagogue was built in 1803 and replaced by another in 1839. This later synagogue was used until 1903, when the Great Synagogue was completed. At its height in 1920, the Jewish community numbered about 7,000 persons. In 1941, there were about 4,200 Jews living in the city. After the German occupation in March, 1944, the Jews were confined to a ghetto and about 1/2 were ultimately deported to Auschwitz and Austria.
The Great Synagogue depicted in the following postcards was the result of a design competition held in 1898. The Rabbi, I. Loew, worked closely with the architect, Lipot Baumhorn, to achieve aesthetic goals beyond the typical structure. The synagogue survived the war and has been declared an architectural monument.
Interior Photo Courtesy of Encyclopedia Judaica
Carole Herselle Krinsky, Synagogues of Europe, P.5-20
Encyclopedia Judaica, CD-Rom Edition, Keter Publishing
Copyright © 1998-99 Edward Victor
