Like Elton John.. (Nozyk Synagogue (Warsaw, Poland))

Member Name: dangaroo

Product:	Nozyk Synagogue (Warsaw, Poland)
Date:	17/06/09 (20 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: One of the few remnants of Jewish Warsaw

Disadvantages: Nothing remarkable other than its presence

Nozyk Synagogue is not particularly special to look at it - it's stature as a place of worship is fairly big though due to the fact that it is the only surviving pre-war synagogue in Warsaw, a city which once had a 30% Jewish population and consisted of 400 worship places.

Despite standing still, it's not the same building that existed before the war, although it is designed based on the original design by Marconi in 1901.

During the war it was damaged by an air-raid then used as stables, before finally being demolished and rebuilding work starting at the end of the war. It wasn't until the 70s though that the project really got underway and it opened in 1983, some 25 years later - it remains the most important Jewish place of prayer in the city, there is also a Kosher restaurant and shop in proximity.

Nozyk Synagogue attracts quite a lot of tourists attention but other than sentimental value or if your Jewish and are going to pray, there's really little reason the building should draw your attention. The synagogue gets it's name from a Warsaw merchant who funded the original building at the turn of the century.

Located on Ul. Twarda, close to Plac Grzybowski, it is in easy walking distance from most of the hotels and hostels in the centre and could be worth a visit on the way to the Warsaw Uprising museum, it's not particularly close to any of the other Jewish sights though unless you are travelling by tram.

Summary: I'm still standing