Synagogue of Sermide
Synagogue in Sermide
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Synagogue of Sermide (Italian: Sinagoga di Sermide) is a former synagogue located in Sermide e Felonica, Italy.
| Synagogue of Sermide | |
|---|---|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Judaism |
| Location | |
| Location | 3 Via Contrada degli Ebrei, Sermide, Italy |
 Interactive map of Synagogue of Sermide | |
| Coordinates | 45°00′22″N 11°17′54″E |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 1598 |
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 women's 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]