Friends

Friends! It is a great weather outside, I went out to walk through magic Lviv city. Of course, I could not miss visiting my favorite place – a square of three synagogues. The jewish quarter is simply mesmerizing. Previously, there was a synagogue "Golden Rose", a Great City Synagogue and Beit Hamidrash Talmudic school. Unfortunately, all these buildings were destroyed during the Second World War, only a wall of the synagogue "Golden Rose" remained.

It was built in the years 1592-1596 by the Italian architect Paul Shaslyviy involving Amvrosiy Pryhilnuy and Adam Pokora. A rich Lviv merchant, banker and financier and at the same time, the head of the Jewish community Itsak Nachmanowicz paid for the construction. According to legend, the name "Golden Rose" connected with Itsak’s daughter who, in order to obtain permission for the construction of the temple, has agreed to become the wife of the king. And after permission was obtained – jumped out of the window. In another version, the "Golden Rose" (or "Turei Zahav") was one of the works of Saint David ben Shmuel Ha-Levi, one of the most prominent rabbis of the city. He often prayed in the synagogue.

"Golden Rose" was one of the most beautiful synagogues in Europe until it was destroyed.

Before the Great city sinagogue was built in 1555, a wooden one stood at that place. Year of construction considered to be 1320! During a fire in Lviv in 1527 it burned down, and then there a brick synagogue appeared. But that one was also dismantled in 1797. After 4 years it was built up – it became better and more beautiful. During the German occupation it was exploded.

Beit Hamidrash – it is a house of wisdom, which consisted of a library of Talmudic literature and a study hall and prayer room. First Beit Hamidrash in the medieval Lviv city was built in the XVII century from wood. It stood between the city and the synagogue "Golden Rose". But by the order of the Austrian government the school was demolished and a new was built nearby. In 1870 Beit Hamidrash was enlarged, a large class room was attached and over the prayer hall - another tier. This building was later also destroyed completely.

Now this historical area has become a "space of synagogues." Almost during two years it was managed to preserve the remained remnants of the synagogue "Golden Rose" to equip on its territory a drainage system, foundation of authentic Beit Hamidrash cleared of concrete and covered with white stone. Also it was established a memorial installation "Immortalization" of quotations of Lviv residents and Jews who were associated with the city. This is not the end - the project of building of public space here is still goes on.

Friends, I invite you to walk through this special and extremely interesting historical site!