Old Synagogue, Przemyśl

Przemyśl Old Synagogue
Basic information
Location	Przemyśl, Poland
Affiliation	Orthodox Judaism
Country	Poland
Status	Destroyed (1941)
Heritage designation	1934
Architectural description
Architectural style	Renaissance
Groundbreaking	1592
Completed	1594

The Old Synagogue, (Polish: Stara Synagoga w Przemyślu), was a large structure in Przemyśl, Poland. It was completed in 1594. It was damaged in 1939 when the Germans were retreating from the eastern bank of the San River and destroyed by the Nazis in 1941.

The stone building was rectangular in shape, typical of the renaissance style of the time. The rectangular main hall remained the only section of the original building after a range of outhouses were added in later years. They included a yeshiva, two additional halls of prayer and offices.

The first legal regulation regarding the Jewish community of Przemyśl dates from March 20, 1559. The privilege, granted by King Zygmunt August, stipulates that "Jews have been living on the Jewish street in Przemyśl for a long time" have the right to settle permanently in Przemyśl and grants them trading rights. Jews were now considered under the royal jurisdiction, i.e. the waywode's court, (which is mentioned in acts of the year 1576 as the "Jews' court"). It appears from a lawsuit of the year 1560 that the Jews then possessed a wooden synagogue, said to have been founded by two wealthy Spanish immigrants. In 1561 the synagogue was attacked by the burghers. A year later in 1592, permission to build a Fortress synagogue from stone in place of the old synagogue was granted by the chapter. The new building was designed by Bononi, an Italian builder of fortifications. It was completed in 1594 and situated within the city, close to its defensive walls and made up part of the city's defence structures.

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