Historic and Great Synagogues of Europe: New Synagogue -- Berlin, Germany

The "Neue Synagoge" (English: New Synagogue) was the main synagogue of the Reform Jewish community in Berlin. This temple was built between 1859 and 1864 at a time when there were about 20,000 Jews in Berlin. Located on Oranienburger Street and consecreated on Rosh Hashana 1866, the New Synagogue was richly decorated with multi-colored brick, had a very fancy center dome, and was designed in Moorish style to resemble the Spanish Alhambra.

A Reform Synagogue, the New Synagogue did not contain a traditional women's section. Its main hall seated nearly 3,000 people, with men and women sitting side by side.

The largest synagogue in Germany at the time of its completion, the New Synagogue was set on fire on Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass) on November 9th, 1938.  Fortunately the fire was put out and the building was not completely destroyed and it was able to continue to function until 1940, after the start of World War II and the Holocaust.  In 1943 the synagogue was further damaged in a British air raid.  Following the war, the building laid in ruins until it was completely demolished in 1958.

Starting in the late 1980s, after the collapse of the Berlin Wall, the synagogue was gradually restored.  Restoration of this neo-classical Moorish-styled building cost nearly $60 million.

Interested in visiting the New Synagogue?
The Address is: Oranienburger Street 28-30, Berlin, Germany.
Phone Number: 030/8802-8316
Call to find out exact Guided Tour times and prices.
Shabbat Services are held every Friday night (18:00 in winter and 19:00 in summer) and Saturday morning at 10:00 am.

Other related pages:

Historic and Great Synagogues of Europe: Great Synagogue in Dohány Street – Budapest, Hungary

Wonders of Prague: Historic and Great Synagogues of Europe -- Jubilee Synagogue in Jerusalem Street -- Prague, Czech Republic