Synagogue of Sermide

Synagogue of Sermide
Religion
AffiliationJudaism
Location
Location3 Via Contrada degli Ebrei, Sermide, Italy
Interactive map of Synagogue of Sermide
Coordinates45°00′22″N 11°17′54″E / 45.00611°N 11.29833°E / 45.00611; 11.29833
Architecture
Completed1598

The Synagogue of Sermide (Italian: Sinagoga di Sermide) is a former synagogue located in Sermide e Felonica, Italy.

History

The synagogue was built in 1598, and served as the place of worship for the town's Jewish community for over three centuries. Due to a loss of the town's Jews by the early 20th century, the synagogue became inactive by 1936.[1] The furnishings were transferred to the Central Synagogue of Milan. They are currently located in a small oratory in its basement.[2] The large Torah ark, a gift from the Jewish community of Mantua[3] given in 1635 (constructed in 1543),[4] was brought to Israel and is exhibited in Jerusalem at the Uri Nahon Museum of Jewish-Italian Art.[5] It contains two side columns surmounted by two pots with large curved handles and a tympanum.

The building was damaged during bombing during WWII and was later turned into a private home[6] with traces of the old rooms still preserved, such as the womens' section.[7] In 2006, a committee was set up in the commune for the recovery of the former synagogue. The 2012 Northern Italy earthquakes damaged the structural integrity of the building.[8] The following year, wooden external supports were added to prevent further damage, with the total estimated repair cost to the building being €235,900.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Italy: Nine years later, what is the status of Jewish heritage sites damaged in the devastating earthquakes that hit northern Italy in May 2012?". Jewish Heritage Europe. 2021-08-02. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  2. ^ "Sinagoghe e oratori". Mosaico (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  3. ^ Wigoder, Geoffrey (1986). The Story of the Synagogue: A Diaspora Museum Book. Harper & Row. p. 91. ISBN 978-0-06-069401-2.
  4. ^ Gutmann, Joseph (2023-08-21). The Jewish Sanctuary. BRILL. p. 29. ISBN 978-90-04-66605-4.
  5. ^ Yaniv, Bracha (2017-08-01). The Carved Wooden Torah Arks of Eastern Europe. Liverpool University Press. p. 108. ISBN 978-1-78694-852-6.
  6. ^ Sacerdoti, Annie (1986). Guida all'Italia ebraica. Genova: Marietti.
  7. ^ Greco, Giorgia (1998-11-10). "Annamaria Mortari e Claudia Bonora Prevdi (a cura di) Il giardino degli ebrei". www.informazionecorretta.com. Retrieved 2025-12-03.
  8. ^ "Il sisma minaccia la sinagoga di Sermide". Moked (in Italian). 2012-06-24. Retrieved 2025-12-03.