Arlon Synagogue
{{short description|Synagogue in Arlon, Belgium}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Arlon Synagogue
| native_name = {{langx|fr|Synagogue d'Arlon}}
| native_name_lang =
| image = Synagogue Arlon.jpg
| image_upright = 1.4
| alt =
| caption = The Arlon Synagogue in 2019
| map_type = Belgium
| map_size = 250
| map_alt =
| map_relief = 1
| map_caption = Location of the synagogue in Belgium
| coordinates = {{Coord|49.683126|5.81873|region:be_type:landmark|format=dms|display=it}}
| coordinates_footnotes =
| religious_affiliation = Judaism
| locale =
| location = Rue de la Synagogue, Arlon
| country = Belgium
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| organisational_status = Synagogue
| functional_status = Active
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| architect = Albert Janot
| architecture_type = {{nowrap|Synagogue architecture}}
| architecture_style = Romanesque Revival
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| established = {{nowrap|1818 {{small|(as a congregation)}}}}
| groundbreaking =
| year_completed = 1863
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| spire_quantity = Two
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| module = {{Infobox historic site | embed = yes
| designation1 = Major Heritage Building of Wallonia
| designation1_offname = {{langx|fr|Totalité de la synagogue sise rue Saint Jean à Arlon}}
| designation1_type = Major Heritage Building of Wallonia
| designation1_criteria =
| designation1_date = {{dts|28 November 2005}}
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| designation1_number = 81001-CLT-0041-01
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The Arlon Synagogue ({{langx|fr|Synagogue d'Arlon}}) is a Jewish congregation and synagogue, located in the town of Arlon, in the south of Belgium. It was built in 1863 and was the first synagogue in Belgium whose construction was funded primarily by public funds. On 28 November 2005, the synagogue was classified as a Major Heritage Building of Wallonia.
History
There have been Jewish families in Arlon since 1808 but a synagogue was not built until 1863.{{Cite book |last=Prat |first=Georges François |url=https://archive.org/details/histoiredarlon01pratgoog |title=Histoire d'Arlon |date=1873 |publisher=Arlon, Typ. et lithographie de P.-A. Bruck |others= |pages=84}} Designed by Albert Janot in the Romanesque Revival style, it has two slim side towers and a tall central arch over the portal and rose window. It was the first synagogue in Belgium whose construction was funded primarily by public funds.{{Cite web |title=La synagogue |url=https://www.arlon.be/loisirs/tourisme/a-propos-darlon/patrimoine-religieux/la-synagogue/la-synagogue |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124093656/https://www.arlon.be/loisirs/tourisme/a-propos-darlon/patrimoine-religieux/la-synagogue/la-synagogue |archive-date=2020-11-24 |access-date=2020-04-26 |website=Ville d'Arlon |lang=fr}}
During the Second World War, many Jews were deported from Arlon but the synagogue itself was spared destruction. The building was turned into a straw depot.{{Cite book |last=Massart |first=Baudouin |title=Au-delà du souvenir, la communauté juive d'Arlon aujourd'hui |publisher=ASBL Mémoire d'Auschwitz |year=2016 |isbn= |location= |pages= |trans-title=Beyond the memory, the Jewish community of Arlon today}} On 28 November 2005, the synagogue was classified as a Major Heritage Building of Wallonia.{{cite web |title=Totalité de la synagogue sise rue Saint Jean à Arlon |work=Aménagement du territoire, Logement, Patrimoine et Énergie |url=https://lampspw.wallonie.be/dgo4/site_thema/index.php?details=81001-CLT-0041-01&thema=bc_pat |publisher=Wallonie service public SPW |lang=fr |date=28 November 2005 |accessdate=19 December 2019}}
Between April 2014 and September 2019, the synagogue was closed, during major structural renovations caused by moisture and dry rot that compromised the structure of the building, leading to the collapse of a vault. The building was subsequently repaired with the support of a local Islamic community and other support.{{Cite web |url=https://jewish-heritage-europe.eu/2019/10/07/belgium-synagogue-in-arlon/ |title=Belgium: Synagogue in Arlon reopens after five years following fullscale restoration |date=2019-10-07| website=Jewish Heritage Europe |language=en-US |access-date=2020-04-26}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.vivreici.be/article/detail_arlon-la-synagogue-restauree-a-ete-inauguree?id=348407 |title=Arlon: la synagogue restaurée a été inaugurée |date=2019-11-19 |website=www.vivreici.be |lang=fr|access-date=2020-04-26}}{{cite web |author=Rabbi Jacob, Jean-Claude |url=https://www.morasha.com.br/en/diaspora-communities/the-arlon-jewish-community.html |title=Arlon's Jewish community |work=Morasha |date=April 2020 |issue=107 |access-date=31 May 2024 }} The Association des Musulmans d’Arlon raised around €2,400 towards repairs.{{Cite web |last=Hoare |first=Liam |last2= |date=2015-10-01 |title=How An Attempt To Save a Synagogue in Belgium Led To Jewish-Muslim Cooperation |url=https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/how-an-attempt-to-save-a-synagogue-in-belgium-lead-to-jewish-muslim-cooperation/ |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=eJewishPhilanthropy}} It's administrator Dr. Mohamed Bouezmarni stated 'Everything is a matter of priority. It’s true, we haven’t got a mosque but it is more urgent to help the synagogue that falls apart'.
See also
{{stack|{{Portal|Belgium|Judaism}}}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.jewishcom.be/wordpress/2009/03/01/la-communaute-israelite-d%e2%80%99arlon-de-israelitische-gemeenschap-van-aarlen/ Présentation de la synagogue d’Arlon sur le site du Consistoire]
{{Synagogues in Belgium}}
Category:1818 establishments in France
Category:19th-century synagogues in Europe
Category:Buildings and structures in Luxembourg (Belgium)
Category:Jewish organizations established in 1818
Category:Romanesque Revival architecture in Belgium
Category:Romanesque Revival synagogues
Category:Synagogues in Belgium
Category:Synagogues completed in 1863
Category:Wallonia's Major Heritage
{{Belgium-synagogue-stub}}