Synagogues in Boskovice

The Maior Synagogue was built in 1639 by the Italian builder Silvester Fiota. In this basic form, it consisted of three parts: the vestibule, the main male nave and the female gallery on the first floor. A stone washbasin, the so-called kijor for ritual hand washing, and three treasury chests have been preserved in the hall to this day, where the Jews put their financial contributions. At the end of the 17th century, the synagogue was enlarged and baroqued. Other modifications followed, such as the expansion of the women's gallery, the construction of a wooden tribune for the boys' choir, and a cast-iron balcony from the end of the 19th century.

The last modifications of the synagogue before World War II in the spirit of orthodox rules were initiated by the last rabbi of Boskovice, Isidor Reich. In 1941, the synagogue was closed and objects of a liturgical nature were taken to Prague, where the Germans wanted to establish a "museum of extinct culture". 80 silver objects and 200 pieces of textiles were taken from this synagogue. In 1942, Jews from Boskovice were transported to extermination camps. Only 14 people returned. The prayer association, which was restored by the survivors, disappeared in the early 1950s and the synagogue served as a warehouse. It seemed that the Jewish Boskovice disappeared. In the 1980s, however, initiatives began to emerge aimed at showing attention to the poor condition of the Jewish quarter and working to ave it. In 2002, after more than ten years, the restoration of the synagogue was completed.