A modernist synagogue completed in 1918, the New Synagogue served Przemyśl’s Jewish community until World War II. Today it functions as a public library, its architectural heritage preserved within a new institutional purpose.
At a glance
Also known as Scheinbach’s Synagogue, this Orthodox Jewish congregation building stands on Juliusza Słowackiego Street. Designed by architect Stanisław Majerski and completed in 1918, it represents early 20th-century synagogue design in Polish Galicia.
History
The synagogue was completed in 1918, serving Przemyśl’s Orthodox Jewish congregation as a house of prayer through the interwar period. In 1939, during the Nazi occupation of Poland, the building was desecrated. Since 1967, it has operated as the Ignacy Krasicki Przemyśl Public Library, preserving its physical structure while transforming its function.
What you see
Stanisław Majerski designed the building in the architectural idiom of early 20th-century Poland. The structure maintains its original form, adapted over decades to accommodate its current use as a municipal library.
Cultural significance
The New Synagogue stands as a material witness to Przemyśl’s once-vibrant Jewish community and the destruction of Jewish life in Poland during World War II. Its conversion to a library exemplifies the complex palimpsest of post-war Eastern European cities, where buildings survive their original communities and purposes.
Key facts
- Location: Juliusza Słowackiego 15, Przemyśl, Podkarpackie Voivodeship, Poland
- Coordinates: 49.781216, 22.77593
- Completed: 1918
- Architect: Stanisław Majerski
- Original function: Orthodox Jewish congregation synagogue
- Current function: Ignacy Krasicki Przemyśl Public Library (since 1967)
Practical information & getting there
The building is located in central Przemyśl and now operates as a public library. For visiting hours and access information, contact the Ignacy Krasicki Przemyśl Public Library directly.
Sources & resources
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