SHORT HISTORY:
Already in the 17th century Jewish community began to settle in the small town of Western Lithuania, which today is called Žemaičių Naumiestis. The first, mural synagogue was built here in 1816, and after a century the second – wooden synagogue has been erected in the town. The wooden synagogue was mostly used during the winter season, because during this time it was more attractive than the main mural synagogue – wooden synagogue had heating. Both synagogue buildings survived the Second World War and its atrocities, but lost its main purpose – prayers.
CURRENT SITUATION:
The wooden synagogue is still called a “women synagogue” by locals in Žemaičių Naumiestis. During the soviet times it has been reorganized to a local cinema theatre and only one entrance out of two was left open. It is almost miraculous, that inside the synagogue original wall paintings have survived behind the newly erected cinema screen. However, both two previous entrances and clear distinctions between main prayer hall and women section in the north western part of the synagogue indicate, that before the Second World War it has been used as a prayer house by both men and women. After Lithuania regained its independence in 1990, the wooden synagogue no longer houses a cinema theatre and the building stands in the middle of Žemaičių Naumiestis closed for the time being.
LOOKING AROUND
Synagogue and market square in Švėkšna