Helsinki Synagogue

{{Short description|Synagogue in Helsinki, Finland}}

{{use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}

{{Infobox religious building

| building_name = Helsinki Synagoga

| native_name = {{langx|fi|Helsingin synagoga}}
{{langx|sv|Helsingfors synagoga}}

| infobox_width =

| image = Helsinki synagogue.jpg

| image_upright = 1.4

| caption = Synagogue dome in 2006

| map_type = Finland

| map_size = 250

| map_relief = 1

| map_caption = Location of the synagogue in Finland

| location = Malminkatu Street 26, Kamppi, Helsinki

| country = Finland

| geo = {{coord|60|10|03|N|24|55|42|E|display=title|region:FI-ES_type:landmark_source:fiwiki}}

| religious_affiliation = Orthodox Judaism

| rite = Nusach Ashkenaz

| province =

| district =

| consecration_year =

| status = Synagogue

| functional_status = Active

| heritage_designation =

| leadership =

| website =

| architect = Jac. Ahrenberg

| architecture_type = {{nowrap|Synagogue architecture}}

| architecture_style = {{ubl|Byzantine Revival|Art Nouveau}}

| facade_direction =

| groundbreaking =

| established = {{nowrap|{{circa|1900}} {{small|(as a congregation)}}}}

| year_completed = 1906

| construction_cost =

| specifications =

| capacity = 600 worshippers

| length =

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| dome_quantity = One

| dome_height_outer =

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| materials = Brick

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}}

The Helsinki Synagogue ({{langx|fi|Helsingin synagoga}}; {{langx|sv|Helsingfors synagoga}}) is an Orthodox Jewish synagogue, located at Malminkatu Street 26, in the Kamppi district of Helsinki, Finland.{{cite news |author=Jackson, Maddison |url=https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/voices-of-european-jewry-helsinki-finland/ |title=Voices of European Jewry: Helsinki, Finland |work=Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle |date=13 July 2022 |access-date=6 June 2024 }}

Overview

The rectangular synagogue building, designed in the Byzantine Revival and Art Nouveau styles{{cite web |url=https://religiana.com/synagogue-helsinki |title=Synagogue in Helsinki |work=Religiana |date=2024 |access-date=6 June 2024 }} by the Viipuri-born architect, Jac. Ahrenberg, was completed in August 1906 and serves the 1,200-strong Jewish community.{{cite web |url=https://jguideeurope.org/en/region/finland/helsinki/ |title=Helsinki |work=The Cultural Guide to Jewish Europe |date=n.d. |access-date=6 June 2024 }} The synagogue dome is a distinctive landmark on the Helsinki skyline, and was renovated and enlarged in 1926, when a library was added. A Jewish community center, located adjacent to the synagogue, including an aged care facility, an auditorium, meeting rooms, and a mikveh, was completed in 1967.{{cite web |url=https://jewish-heritage-europe.eu/finland/heritage-heritage-sites/ |title=Finland: Heritage and Heritage Sites |work=Jewish Heritage Europe |date=n.d. |access-date=6 June 2024 }}{{cite web |url=https://jchelsinki.fi/en/about-us/helsinki-synagogue/ |title=Helsinki Synagogue |work=Jewish Community of Helsinki |date=n.d. |access-date=6 June 2024 }}

As one of the most northern in the world, the congregation follows the halachic hour, especially during Finnish summers where it doesn't get dark, even at night. Under rabbinic Jewish law, an hour is calculated by taking the total time of daylight of a particular day, from sunrise until sunset, and dividing it into twelve equal parts. The halachic hour varies by the season and sometimes by the day. As a result, shabbat services are conducted during daylight.

Gallery

I.K._Inha,_Helsinki_d2005_132_687_(16369413321).jpg|Helsinki synagogue, 1908

Helsinki_Helsingfors_Synagogue_01.png|Helsinki synagogue, 2020

Helsinki Helsingfors Synagogue 02.png|Helsinki synagogue, 2020

See also

{{stack|{{portal|Finland|Judaism}}}}

References