Great Synagogue of Europe

The Great Synagogue of Europe, formerly known as the Great Synagogue of Brussels (French: Grande synagogue de Bruxelles; Dutch: Grote Synagoge van Brussel), is the main synagogue in Brussels, Belgium which was dedicated as a focal point for European Jews in 2008.

For similarly named synagogues, see Great Synagogue.
Great Synagogue of Europe
Religion
AffiliationJudaism
DistrictCity of Brussels
LeadershipAlbert Guigui
StatusActive
Location
Location32 Rue de la Regence/Regentschapsstraat
Brussels, Belgium
Geographic coordinates50°50′20″N 4°21′18″E
Architecture
Architect(s)Désiré De Keyser
StyleRomanesque revival
Groundbreaking1875
Completed1878

The building was designed in 1875 in a Romanesque-Byzantine style by the architect Désiré De Keyser and constructed in 1878. It is located at 32 Rue de la Régence in Brussels. The synagogue survived the Holocaust in which 25,000 Belgian Jews died. Its chief rabbi is Albert Guigui and there are approximately 15,000 persons of Jewish faith in the city (as of 2008).[1][2]

On Rosh Hashanah, 18 September 1982, the synagogue was attacked by a man with a submachine gun, seriously wounding four people.[3][4] The attack has been attributed to the Abu Nidal Organization.[5]

It was dedicated as the "Great Synagogue of Europe" on 4 June 2008 by President José Manuel Barroso and two of Europe's leading rabbis who signed a document of dedication. The ceremony also involved singing by the European Choir and the reading of a "Prayer for Europe." The prayer wished for EU leaders to act justly in creating a "spiritual union" and to ask for happiness for European citizens.[6]

The act was of a more political nature, as in the 19th century, responding to the Age of Enlightenment, Great Synagogues were built in many capitals of Europe to show that Jews were full and free citizens. This is something the Jewish community now wished to show at a European level.[1] It is hoped that the building will become a focus for Judaism in Europe, as St. Peter's Basilica is for Roman Catholics.[6]

See also

References
  1. New status for Brussels synagogue BBC News 2008-06-04
  2. Grande Synagogue de Bruxelles, Brussels Pictures 2008-02-03
  3. "AROUND THE WORLD; Hunt Is On in Brussels For Synagogue Raider". The New York Times. 20 September 1982.
  4. "Terror in Europe: Explosion in Paris, Machine Gun Attack in Brussels Mar Rosh Hashanah". JTA. 21 September 1982.
  5. Enders, Walter; Sandler, Todd (2011). The Political Economy of Terrorism. Cambridge University Press. pp. 53–54. ISBN 9781139504706.
  6. Runner, Philippa (2008-06-04) Barroso to inaugurate European synagogue, EU Observer
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