Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Great Synagogue of Lyon, located 13 Tilsitt quai in the 2nd arrondissement, was built between 1863 and 1864 by the architect Abraham Hirsch in a neo-Byzantine style. This project was born out of the growth of the Lyon Jewish community, initially attached to the Consistory of Marseilles, and then empowered in 1849 with the creation of a local rabbinate. The land, ceded by the city in exchange for a soul, allowed to build a building symbolizing the community's anchoring in the Rhodanian city.

The inauguration took place on 23 June 1864 in the presence of the civil and religious authorities, marking the culmination of a process initiated in 1857 by the creation of a regional Consistory under Napoleon III. The building, which was listed as historical monuments in 1984, is distinguished by its blue dome, its twelve columns symbolizing the tribes of Israel, and an apse housing the Holy Ark. Its architecture reflects the technological innovations of the 19th century, although structural problems (infiltrations, degradations) required further restoration.

During World War II, the synagogue became a place of resistance and suffering for the Lyon Jewish community. In December 1943, a grenade attack caught the faithful during an office, causing eight minor injuries. In June 1944, the French militia arrested several members of the Consistory, then deported to Auschwitz via Drancy. At the Liberation, Rabbi David Feuerwerker abolished the use of the organ during the offices, marking a break with some pre-existing traditions.

The building, owned by the Jewish Cultivation Association, comprises two buildings: one housing the offices of the Consistory and one oratory, the other dedicated to the main prayer room, with a gallery reserved for women. Today the synagogue welcomes about 40,000 faithful in the Lyon metropolis, under the direction of Rabbi Nissim Malka. Restoration works, supported by the city and the region, aim to preserve this unique heritage, witness to Jewish history in France.

Interior architecture is characterized by a central nave flanked by collaterals, a wooden bimah, and stained glass windows bringing natural light under the dome. The commemorative plaques of First World War soldiers, desecrated during the occupation, also recall the memorial role of the site. Classified since 1984, the synagogue remains a symbol of resilience and cultural continuity for the Jewish community in Lyon.

External links