Berlin Biggest Synagogue Reopen on 31 August 2007

The special ceremony in Berlin Friday marked the reopening of the synagogue located in east Berlin's trendy Prenzlauer Berg district. The synagogue was built in 1904 and it took a year work to restore its former glory after set ablaze on Kristallnacht (n 1938 when many Jewish temples, homes and businesses were set on fire by the Nazis and their sympathizers).

Its huge prayer hall seats up to 1,200 people which is important as Berlin has the biggest Jewish community in the country. It was one of the few Jewish institutions that survived the blaze in 1938.

Since the fall of Berlin Wall, it was rebuilt with the help of Berlin city authority, lottery money and international donations.

The interior restoration cost up to $ 3.7 million came from the city-owned lottery. Renovation work was carried out by architect Ruth Golan and her partner Kay Zareh with only few old photographs to work with.

The blue dome, topped the the building, has been described as one of the jewels of Germany Jewish Community. Restoration of the ceiling was not an easy task as architects had to use scalpels to remove the layers from the ceiling before they could restore it.

A few finishing touch and stained glass windows have been installed with excerpts from Genesis, both in Hebrew and German.

Source: Text from CBC news and Pictures from Special Online International