Caen Synagogue
The Synagogue of Caen is a French synagogue located at 46 Avenue de la Libération, in Caen, Calvados, Normandy. The president of the Israelite Cultural Association of Caen (ACI), who own the building, is Nassim Levy.[1]
History[edit]
Before the construction of the synagogue, Jews in Caen held services in different locations around the city, notably in community buildings or the musée Langlois.[2][3] With the arrival of North African Jews in France following the Indépendance of Algeria, the local Jewish community, largely composed of Ashkenazi Jews, recognized the need for the construction of a dedicated place of worship.[2]
The site chosen for the new synagogue was formerly a garage owned by a Jewish man deported during the Second World War.[3] Seventy-five percent of the construction costs were covered by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee,[4] at the time about 20 million francs.[when?][2] The architect was Guy Morizet. The first stone was laid on April 30, 1964 and construction lasted a month. The synagogue was consecrated on May 23, 1966 in the presence of Jacob Kaplan, Chief Rabbi of France.
Since the year 2000[edit]
In 2006, anti-semitic leaflets were found near the entrance of the synagogue, making references to the Shoah.[5]
As of 2020, the community has about 150 families.
In 2020, the synagogue began major renovations.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ Anne-Louise Sevaux. "Déconfinement à Caen. La synagogue ne rouvrira qu'en septembre". caen.maville.com (in French). Retrieved 2021-02-22.
- ^ a b c Marie, Juliette (May 2015). "La tardive construction de la synagogue". Ouest-France, édition de Caen.
- ^ a b "La synagogue de Caen célèbre son 50 ème anniversaire". France 3 Normandie (in French). Retrieved 2021-02-22.
- ^ "PSS / Synagogue de Caen (Caen, France)". www.pss-archi.eu. Retrieved 2020-09-23.
- ^ "Des tracts antisémites devant une synagogue de Caen". Libération.fr (in French). 2006-02-01. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
- ^ Nathalie Lecornu-Baert (17 September 2020). "La synagogue fait peau neuve pour Roch Hachanah". Ouest-France.