Great Synagogue of Europe

The Great Synagogue of Europe (Grande synagogue d'Europe; Grote Synagoge van Europa), formerly known as the Great Synagogue of Brussels (Grande synagogue de Bruxelles; Grote Synagoge van Brussel), is the main synagogue in Brussels, Belgium, which was dedicated as a focal point for European Jews in 2008.

The building was designed in 1875 in a Romanesque-Byzantine style by the architect Désiré De Keyser and constructed in 1878. The synagogue survived the Holocaust in which 25,000 Belgian Jews died. Its chief rabbi is Albert Guigui and there are approximately 15,000 persons of Jewish faith in the city (as of 2008). It is located at 32, rue de la Régence/Regentschapsstraat in the Sablon/Zavel district (south-eastern part of Brussels' city centre). This site is served by the tram stop Petit Sablon/Kleine Zavel (on lines 92 and 93)

History
The synagogue was dedicated as the "Great Synagogue of Europe" on 4 June 2008 by then-President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, and two of Europe's leading rabbis who signed a document of dedication. The ceremony also involved singing by the European Choir and the reading of a "Prayer for Europe." The prayer wished for EU leaders to act justly in creating a "spiritual union" and to ask for happiness for European citizens. The act was of a more political nature, as in the 19th century, responding to the Age of Enlightenment, Great Synagogues were built in many capitals of Europe to show that Jews were full and free citizens. This is something the Jewish community now wished to show at a European level. It is hoped that the building will become a focus for Judaism in Europe, as St. Peter's Basilica is for Roman Catholics.

Anti-semitic incident
On Rosh Hashanah, 18 September 1982, the synagogue was attacked by a man with a submachine gun, seriously wounding four people. The attack has been attributed to the Abu Nidal Organization.