The "Baal Shem Tov" Wooden Synagogue
At 7 Dimitrie Ernici Street, in the old town of Piatra Neamț, the Baal Shem Tov Wooden Synagogue is one of the oldest and most valuable Jewish places of worship in Eastern Europe. Built in 1766 on the site of an earlier synagogue dating from before 1497, it is considered the oldest fully preserved synagogue in Romania.
Architecture and details
The building is made entirely of massive wooden beams resting on a high stone foundation. You enter by going down a few steps, a feature typical of traditional synagogues in Central and Eastern Europe.
Highlights:
- The Holy Ark (Aron ha-Kodesh), carved in 1835
- The ritual curtain from 1767, with Hebrew inscriptions
- Interior galleries for women and children
- The wooden structure, fully preserved since 1766
History and restoration
The present synagogue was built under a charter signed on 19 July 1766 by Prince Grigore III Ghica. Over time it went through several restorations, the most recent between 2004 and 2009.
Key dates:
- Built: 1766, by princely charter
- Restored: 1826, 1872, 1922, 1928
- Major renovation: 2004–2009
- Support: World Monuments Fund, New York
- A working monument open to visitors
Traditional architecture
- •Massive wooden beams on a stone foundation
- •Carved and gilded Holy Ark from 1835
- •Ritual curtain from 1767 with inscriptions
- •Traditional Eastern European style
Key facts
After visiting the synagogue
Discover the Princely Court and Stephen the Great's Tower, just a few minutes' walk away, then take the cable car to see the city from above