Stará ortodoxná synagóga v Košiciach

On the site where a small Jewish prayer house once stood, the oldest preserved Orthodox synagogue in Košice that still exists today was built in 1883. It was designed by architect Jozef Novák. In 1899, the synagogue was rebuilt and expanded into its present form in the Moorish style by builder Ján Balogh.

The synagogue is located on Zvonárska Street, in the centre of the religious life of Košice’s Jewish community. This area also includes the prayer hall of the Orthodox Jewish religious community, the office of the Jewish Religious Community Košice, a kosher dining hall for members, the rabbi’s residence, and ritual baths (mikveh).

From the original structure, cast-iron columns supporting the wooden women’s gallery have been preserved. After the Second World War, the synagogue was used as a storage facility for books of the State Scientific Library in Košice, which significantly damaged its interior. Since then, it has no longer served religious purposes. Although partially restored, today it is used only occasionally for non-religious cultural events.