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

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.

UZLYANY

Uzlyany is a small town in the area of Minsk, Belarus. The Synagogue was built in the first decade of the 18th century. The structure was simple and poor and so appropriate for the small and poor congregation.

The walls, as well as the ceiling, in the prayer hall, were not covered with plates. Above the entrance was the small women's section, and the entrance was on external steps. Marks of an appendix that was dismantled were outside. In this poor Prayer House there was one particular thing that earned attention, and that was the Torah Ark, the work of wood carver Baer Ben Israel. His father was also a wood carver, and their wonderful creation decorated the Synagogues in the small towns of that area.

A Torah Ark was unique in its style. Its measurements, according to M. Berson: height 2.15 m, breadth 1,46 m. The above mentioned researcher also found Silver Torah Shields.

The measurements of the structure and the date of the burning are unknown.

The Holy Ark.
The upper part (with the holy tables of the Decalogue) survived and is found in the National Museum of Minsk. It was discovered and photographed by the researcher Zussia Ephron.