The Fabric Synagogue was built in Timișoara between 1897 and 1899 in an eclectic style, with neo-Moorish, Gothic and Italian neo-Renaissance elements. The synagogue fell into disrepair at the end of the communist period, closing in 1985 as most of the Jews in Timișoara had already emigrated to Israel after World War II. It was abandoned for 24 years, during which time it was vandalised and valuables were stolen. In 2009 the Jewish Community of Timișoara ceded the synagogue to the Timișoara National Theatre for a period of 35 years. Their plan was to turn it into a performance hall, but due to a lack of funds the project never materialised. In 2018, the synagogue was taken over by the Timișoara City Hall (for a period of 40 years), who promised to transform it into a cultural space. Nothing came of that project either so the synagogue was returned to the Jewish Community of Timișoara in 2020. In 2023 it was taken over again by the City Hall in order to be restored. Dominic Fritz, the Mayor of Timișoara, issued the following statement in October 2023: "The synagogue is in a dramatic state, with the roof close to collapsing and interiors vandalised. It was chosen last year by the World Monuments Fund as one of 25 “extremely significant” monuments across the planet to be saved. In the next few months we will make the building safe and stop the degradation. Then, with the help of $100,000 in private funding and from the local budget, we will develop together with architects, people of culture and the entire Timisoara community a rehabilitation project. Our vision is to develop a unique place in Europe, a multifunctional space for artists and not only from different cultures."
Having driven a long way to get here with @elliot5200 we were determined to find a way inside. Things weren't looking great when we arrived so we resorted to asking an old lady (via google translate) in the shared garden next door if she knew anyone we could ask for permission. She gave us a couple of phone numbers to try, but seeing as it was a national holiday nobody was answering. A few minutes later, we spotted a ladder leaning against another neighbour's wall. We went over, carried it across the garden, placed it underneath a semi open looking window, turned around and gave the old lady a thumbs up. She was less than impressed so we pretended not to notice her disapproval, went up the ladder, and gave her a cheeky little wave as we disappeared through the window. Sometimes being brazen and hoping for the best is the only option. It's safe to say we got a good telling off in Romanian when we reappeared a couple of hours later, but thankfully that was all. We made our sincere apologies (sorry not sorry) and headed back to the car, where we immediately found we'd developed a puncture. Karma, is indeed a bitch.
Archive photo taken in 1905
Shalom.
Having driven a long way to get here with @elliot5200 we were determined to find a way inside. Things weren't looking great when we arrived so we resorted to asking an old lady (via google translate) in the shared garden next door if she knew anyone we could ask for permission. She gave us a couple of phone numbers to try, but seeing as it was a national holiday nobody was answering. A few minutes later, we spotted a ladder leaning against another neighbour's wall. We went over, carried it across the garden, placed it underneath a semi open looking window, turned around and gave the old lady a thumbs up. She was less than impressed so we pretended not to notice her disapproval, went up the ladder, and gave her a cheeky little wave as we disappeared through the window. Sometimes being brazen and hoping for the best is the only option. It's safe to say we got a good telling off in Romanian when we reappeared a couple of hours later, but thankfully that was all. We made our sincere apologies (sorry not sorry) and headed back to the car, where we immediately found we'd developed a puncture. Karma, is indeed a bitch.
Archive photo taken in 1905
Shalom.
