H. Szilasi Ágota - Várkonyi Péter - Bujdosné Pap Györgyi - Császi Irén (szerk.): Agria 50. (Az egri Dobó István Vármúzeum Évkönyve - Annales Musei Agriensis, 2017)

H. Szilasi ÁGOTA: Egri zsinagógák

Ágota H. Szilasi

THE SYNAGOGUES OF EGER

The history of Jewish people in Eger follows the history of Jewish people in Hungary in general: immigration, difficulties in integration, prosperity and expulsion. The history of this community, their emergence and role in the social, political, cultural and economic scene is clearly demonstrated by the history, prosperity and decay of the three synagogues, erected in the town centre, highlighting the tragedy of the holocaust, as well as the cultural and personal losses we suffered.

After lifting the ban on the right of residence in 1840, Jewish people settled in Eger in great numbers. In order to practice their religion, they began to build their synagogue shortly after by the side of the Eger stream that was close to the castle. This synagogue was built in the style of classicism, its architect unknown. Following the Orthodox-Neolog Schism at the Hungarian Jewish Congress in 1868-69, the Eger community decided not to join either side and favoured the status quo ante that is the way things were before the congress. The unity of the community, however, was shattered in 1877, when the Orthodox Jews left to establish their own religious community in Káptalan Street (now 17, Kossuth Lajos Street) and later built their synagogue there. Only the architect of the 1910 reconstruction is known. The status quo community kept the old synagogue (cultural centre from the 1920s) and the school. In 1913 the new Neolog synagogue was built at the bottom of the castle hill, in the town centre. It was the initiative of community president Dezső Kánitz. The construction was financed from donations and the plans were made by architect Lipót Baumhort. The building was demolished in 1968.

The two remaining buildings are currently used for cultural events.

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