Brussels Synagogue

Brussels. The Synagogue. Société Anonyme Belge de Phototypie (SBP), Brussels.

The Great Synagogue in the Belgian capital Brussels, inaugurated in 1878, was designed by Desir. De Keyser (1823–1897), a prominent architect whose other works include the building of the Belgian National Bank (which now serves as its museum). The organ was installed by Pierre Schyven, a former student and colleague of Joseph Merklin. When the plans for the synagogue were submitted to the municipal authorities, the relevant committee criticized that the design displayed not a single, “even purely decorative, architectural reflection of the Oriental origin and serene antiquity of the Hebrew religion or Israelite architecture”. Might such elements not be added to distinguish the synagogue more clearly from a church? This episode offers a poignant reminder of the fact that, when synagogues did display a range of “Oriental” features, as well as being an expression of the relevant congregation’s wishes, this may also have reflected a desire or need to meet external expectations.

Postcard from the book: Jews in Old Postcards and Prints