Miory Regional Executive Committee

The building is located on Revolyutsionnaya Street near the railway station and forms part of the city’s historic center. It holds the status of a historical and cultural heritage site as the only synagogue of Vitebsk from past centuries that has survived to the present day.

Experts and distinguished guests present at the ceremonial opening of the Jewish house of prayer noted that a few more years of delay would have made it impossible to save the building.

“This event is a restoration of historical justice. Moreover, there is now one more place of worship for believers in the Vitebsk region. This means that a little more of God’s blessing has descended upon our land,” said Alexander Subbotin, Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee. “I am confident that the synagogue is a true ornament of the city, a landmark that will attract many people.”

The restored facility has significant tourism potential. In particular, the Marc Chagall House is located nearby, providing ample grounds to believe that the artist’s family attended this synagogue. Furthermore, it will serve not only as a place of worship but also as a cultural and educational center hosting exhibitions and presentations, and its doors will be open to all who wish to visit.

By the beginning of the 20th century, Jews accounted for more than half of Vitebsk’s population, and the city was home to over 50 synagogues. Most of them were single-story wooden buildings. Only a few houses of prayer stood out against the general backdrop with their grandeur, including the Great Lubavitcher Synagogue.

vitebsk-region.gov.by