Kőszeg

The synagogue of the Jewish community of Kőszeg, the history of which goes back to the middle ages, was built in 1859. The building, located in the depth of a courtyard on the banks of a creek, differs from synagogues of the time. Two bastion-like towers were erected next to the entrance and in between them, engravings of the Hebrew abbreviations on the Tablets of the Ten Commandments can be seen. Surprisingly, the interior is circular, unusual at the time. The Torah Ark made of painted wood and with a lock the shape of a Star of David is located in a chamber on the Eastern wall. The gallery of the women’s section begins at the two sides of the Torah Ark and encircles the interior area. The opening in the middle of the roof lets in natural light. The ceilings and the walls are beautifully painted. The name and the coat of arms of Fülöp Schey of Lakompak, the donor who financed the construction of the synagogue and also contributed substantially to Jewish community life, were painted on the wall and along with it an inscription attesting to the generous donation, among many other motifs. Fülöp Schey was one of the first Jews to be granted the title of Baron and thus a place in the Hungarian aristocracy. Majority of the Jews of Kőszeg was killed during the Holocaust, only sixteen returned of the hundred souls. In 1970 the synagogue was transferred to the ownership of the Hungarian State. The building has been in private hands since 1995.