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Oni Synagogue

Coordinates: 42°35′N 43°27′E / 42.58°N 43.45°E / 42.58; 43.45
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Oni Synagogue
The synagogue in 2007
Religion
AffiliationOrthodox Judaism
RiteGeorgian Jewish
Ecclesiastical or organisational statusSynagogue
StatusActive
Location
Location53 Vakhtang VI Street, Oni, Racha
CountryGeorgia
Oni Synagogue is located in Georgia
Oni Synagogue
Location of the synagogue in Georgia
Geographic coordinates42°35′N 43°27′E / 42.58°N 43.45°E / 42.58; 43.45
Architecture
TypeSynagogue architecture
Style
Date establishedc. 1801
Completed1895
MaterialsStone
[1]

The Oni Synagogue is an Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at 53 Vakhtang VI Street in Oni, in the Racha region of Republic of Georgia.[2] The Oni synagogue was built in 1895 and is the oldest functioning synagogue in Georgia.[3][4]

History

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The synagogue was built in 1895 in an eclectic Moorish Revival style.[1] It is Georgia's third largest synagogue after the Great Synagoge of Tbilisi and the synagogue of Kutaisi.[5]

During the 1991 Racha earthquake, the synagogue was severely damaged.[1] Four years later, the synagogue was renovated with support from the government and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. The president of Georgia at the time, Eduard Shevardnadze, attended the re-dedication ceremony.[4]

On September 2, 2015, the congregation celebrated the 120th anniversary of the synagogue's establishment.[6] Irakli Garibashvili, the Prime Minister at the time, attended the ceremony.[4][7]

Georgia had 250,000 Jews who belonged to an ancient community spanning thousands of years. The community had endemic customs including special prayer styles. In the 1970s and 1990s, the majority of the Jewish population moved, primarily to Israel, and only a few thousand remained in Georgia.[4] In 1972, the synagogue had 3,150 congregants[5] and as of 2015 the number of congregants was 16.[4]

Notable members

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Synagogue in Onii". Historic Synagogues of Europe. Foundation for Jewish Heritage and the Centre for Jewish Art at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. n.d. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  2. ^ Mitchell, Laurence. "Journey to Oni: a forgotten synagogue in Georgia's Racha province". Hidden Europe. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  3. ^ "בית הכנסת החדש באוני". www.jewish-heritage.org.il. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Georgian PM to attend anniversary of country's oldest synagogue, 120". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 21 August 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  5. ^ a b Renner, Pamela (8 September 2009). "Oni the Lonely". Tablet. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  6. ^ "120th anniversary Oni synagogue". Jewish Heritage Europe. Archived from the original on 25 August 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  7. ^ "Georgia-Israel celebrate 120th anniversary of Oni Synagogue". Business Political Insights. 3 September 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  8. ^ a b "Oni". The Cultural Guide to Jewish Europe. n.d. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
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Media related to Oni synagogue at Wikimedia Commons


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