Location Bjelovar, Croatia Leadership Rabbi: Lazar Margulies Opened 1917 Architectural style Art Nouveau | Rite Ashkenazi Completed 1917 Phone +385 43 241 112 | |
 | ||
Status Bjelovar home of culture Construction cost 160,000 Austro-Hungarian krone Address Ul. Ivana Mažuranića 6, 43000, Bjelovar, Croatia Similar Križevci Synagogue, Slavonski Brod Synagogue, Sisak Synagogue, Koprivnica Synagogue, Karlovac Synagogue | ||
Bjelovar Synagogue (Izraelitički templ) is a former synagogue in Bjelovar, Croatia that now serves as a home of culture.
First Jewish temple in Bjelovar was built in 1882. During the years number of Jews in Bjelovar increased, so current temple could no longer meet the needs of Jewish community Bjelovar. The idea of building the new synagogue dates in 1913 when general assembly of the Jewish community Bjelovar, under president Jaša Hržić, decided to build a new large and attractive synagogue. At the time around 500 Jews lived in Bjelovar. According to calculations the synagogue construction cost 160,000 Austro-Hungarian krone. Synagogue was designed by Hönigsberg & Deutsch architect Otto Goldscheider. Construction began in 1913, and in 1917 Art Nouveau Bjelovar Synagogue was completed. Bjelovar Synagogue was consecrated by Bjelovar chief rabbi Samuel D. Tauber and Virovitica chief rabbi H. E. Kauffmann. Torah transfer from old synagogue to new took place on 15 August 1917. Synagogue rabbi was Lazar Margulies. During World War II almost all Bjelovar Jews have been killed during the Holocaust. Synagogue was robbed and left devastated. After the war Bjelovar Synagogue was turned into a theater in 1951. Domes and religious characteristics on the synagogue have been removed, only Star of David was left in the interior upper floor. Today Bjelovar Synagogue serves as a home of culture.