Batumi Synagogue
| Batumi Synagogue | |
|---|---|
Georgian: ბათუმის სინაგოგა | |
Batumi Synagogue in 2016 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Judaism |
| Rite | Georgian Jewish |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Synagogue |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 33 Vazha-Pshavela Street, Batumi, Adjara |
| Country | Georgia |
Location of the synagogue in Georgia | |
| Coordinates | 41°38′51″N 41°38′04″E / 41.6474°N 41.6345°E |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 1904 |
Batumi Synagogue (Georgian: ბათუმის სინაგოგა, batumis sinagoga), also known as the Stone Ashkenazi Synagogue,[1] is a synagogue located in Batumi, Adjara, Georgia. The building was constructed in 1904 under the direction of Semyon Vulkovich, a prominent local Jewish leader.[2][3] The building was used by Ashkenazi Jews in Batumi until 1923, when it became a Soviet sports hall.[4]
Architecture
The synagogue has historically served as the religious and cultural center of Batumi’s Jewish community. Its architecture reflects early 20th-century European influences, combined with local stylistic elements. Inspirations were drawn from the synagogues of Amsterdam and The Hague.[4]
History
European Jews illegally established a house of prayer in Batumi in the late 19th century. The government postponed their request to establish a synagogue three times, leading the Jews to turn to the rabbi of Kutaisi for help. Only in 1899, did they get official approval to begin building from the Emperor Nicholas II of Russia.[5]
The Jews bought the building from a Turkish citizen for 2,000 manats. The building was first opened in 1904, but remained unfinished until at least 1912.[5] Architect Semion Lev Vulkovich designed and led the project.[1][5]
During the Soviet era, the building was used for a variety of purposes, including as a sports club.[1] When the synagogue was closed, Jews conducted their religious observations in their own apartments.[6]
Despite these periods of closure during the Soviet era, the synagogue was preserved and later restored. In November 1998, Batumi Synagogue resumed its role as a place of worship and community gathering.[3]
Today, Batumi Synagogue remains active, offering religious services and functioning as a symbol of the enduring Jewish heritage in Georgia’s Black Sea region.
Gallery
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Detail of stone work
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Front door
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Plaque reading: Built in 1904 according to the project of Batumi architect Simon Lvov-dze Volkovich (1879-1937)
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Windows
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Gate design
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Construction on Batumi Synagogue
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Batumi Synagogue: A Testament to Georgia's Diverse Historical Legacy". georgia.to. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- ^ "Batumi: sights". Official website of Batumi. n.d. Archived from the original on 17 March 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
- ^ a b "Batumi Synagogue | World Jewish Travel". Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- ^ a b "Batumi - jewish heritage, history, synagogues, museums, areas and sites to visit". JGuide Europe. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
- ^ a b c Loria, Manuchar, and Natalia Jijavadze. "Tourism Sustainability Analysis And The Prospects For Creating An Ethnovisual Tourism Atlas In Adjara." Three Seas Economic Journal 4.3 (2023): 1-8.
- ^ Komakhidze, Boris. "Negotiating urban religious space in Batumi: The case of catholics and protestants." New Diversities 23.2 (2021): 65-78.
External links
Media related to Batumi synagogue at Wikimedia Commons