Moshe Verbin: Wooden Synagogues of Poland in the 17th and 18th Century : Shukyany

Wooden Synagogues of Poland in the 17^th and 18^th Century

David Dawidowicz: Synagogues in Poland and their Destruction

The models were based on the thorough and comprehensive research of the famous architects and researchers: Maria and Kazimierz Piechotka, Warszawa, Poland.

SHUKYANY

Shukyany is a small town in Lithuania in the west of the Shavli province.

Before, the First W.W. there were 130 Jewish families but their number was reduced to 70 families on the eve of the Second W.W.

This wooden synagogue was considered to be the oldest and most beautiful in Lithuania and was believed to have been built in the second half of the 18^th century.

It was burnt by the Germans or the Lithuanians during the Second W.W. The central building is the prayer hall. It is square and surrounded by other buildings on three sides. To the north and south there were the women's prayer rooms. In the front there was the "Polush" (the entrance room) and rooms for use by the Community.

The four-staged roof was pyramidal. On the second stage, there was a passage from square shape to the octagonal shape.

In the fourth stage, the shape returned to square.

The entire, magnificent roof rested upon strong and highly decorated ledges, which were on the walls of the central building.

There are no existing details regarding the size of the building and its interior design.