The Great Synagogue of Lyon, an architectural and spiritual jewel

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Welcome to the Grande Synagogue de Lyon, an architectural and spiritual jewel in the heart of the city! Let me guide you through this building full of history and spirituality. At the beginning of the 19th century, the small Jewish community of Lyon rented modest spaces for its prayers. But faced with their growth, they aspired to a synagogue worthy of the name.

On October 23, 1857, Emperor Napoleon III created a regional consistory, unifying the Jewish communities of several departments, including the Rhône. After some twists and turns, including disagreements over the location, construction of the Great Synagogue of Lyon finally began in 1862.

Led by architect Abraham Hirsch, work on the Great Synagogue was completed in 1864, and the official inauguration took place on June 23 of the same year.

During World War II, the Great Synagogue of Lyon was the scene of tragedy for the Jewish community. Lyon’s Chief Rabbi, Bernard Schonberg, was arrested and deported to Auschwitz in 1943. In 1944, the synagogue was attacked with grenades, injuring several worshipers. Later that year, the French militia arrested and deported the synagogue’s members, leaving the building desecrated and ransacked. After the war, under the leadership of Rabbi David Feuerwerker, restoration efforts were undertaken to restore the synagogue’s dignity.

Outside, admire the imposing façade of the building on Quai Tilsitt, reflecting the importance and solemnity of this place of worship.

Let us now enter the prayer hall, a majestic and luminous space. The general view of the interior reveals an elegant and harmonious architecture, with its columns symbolizing the tribes of Israel. Admire its dome painted in blue diffusing a soft light through sixteen semi-circular windows. Observe the Holy Ark, magnificently sculpted, housing the Torah scrolls, and the Bimah in front of it, where the sacred readings take place. Let us not forget the women's gallery, located above the side aisles, offering a separate space for the participation of women in religious services. From there, they can contemplate the ceremony in complete serenity, separated but integrated into the life of the synagogue. 

Before you leave, take a look at the wooden organ, a testament to a rich musical and spiritual history. Although it requires restoration, it continues to remind us of the importance of music in Jewish liturgy.

The Great Synagogue of Lyon is much more than just a place of worship. It is a symbol of Lyon’s Jewish community, its resilience and its contribution to the city’s history and culture.

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Lyon Synagogue Facade Saone Riverbank Quai Tilsitt Lyon 2nd.

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Architect's plan: on the left, the courtyard facade; on the right, the street facade. Lithograph by Lebel after Abraham Hirsch.

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Portrait of Abraham Hirsch.

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Roundup of the Broualan maquis by the militiamen, July 1944.

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Facade of the Great Synagogue of Lyon on the Quai Tilsitt.

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General view of the interior of the great Synagogue of Lyon.

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The dome of the Great Synagogue of Lyon.

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The Holy Ark of the Great Synagogue of Lyon.

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The women's gallery of the Great Synagogue of Lyon.

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The entrance and organ of the Great Synagogue of Lyon.

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The Holy Ark and the Bimah of the Great Synagogue of Lyon.

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Pierre Bossan

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