Sejny Synagogue



The Sejny synagogue is a former synagogue in Sejny, Poland, also called the White Synagogue in Sejny.

History
The large, Neo-baroque style building on Pilsudskiego Street was erected in the 1860s, replacing an older building. It was used by the Nazis as a fire station, the interior was gutted and all furnishings were destroyed. It was restored - with a plain, modern interior - in 1987 and now serves as a cultural center, theater and museum.

Called the Borderland Foundation (Fundacja Pogranicze), the foundation and its cultural center are dedicated to the cultures of the region: Polish, Lithuanian, Belarusian, Jewish, Ukrainian and Russian. A Klezmer band is based at the cultural center.

The nineteenth century yeshiva building also survives, and is also used by the Borderland Foundation.

Images

 * Nineteenth century postcard of Sejny synagogue and yeshiva: