Oni Synagogue

The Synagogue in Oni is a synagogue at 53 Vakhtang VI Street in Oni in the Republic of Georgia. The synagogue is located in the Racha region of Georgia.[1] The Oni synagogue was built in 1895 and is the oldest functioning synagogue in Georgia.[2][3]

Oni Synagogue
Religion
AffiliationOrthodox Judaism
Location
Location Oni, Georgia
Architecture
Completed1895

History

Construction

The synagogue was built in 1895 in an eclectic style. It is Georgia's third largest synagogue after the Great Synagoge of Tbilisi and the synagogue of Kutaisi.[4]

1991 Racha earthquake

During the 1991 Racha earthquake, the synagogue was severely damaged. Four years later, the synagogue was renovated with support from the government and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. The president of Georgia at the time, Eduard Shevardnadze, attended the re-dedication ceremony.[3]

120th anniversary

On September 2, 2015, the synagogue held a ceremony for its 120th anniversary.[5] Irakli Garibashvili, the prime minister of Georgia at the time, attended the ceremony.[3][6]

Decline

The country of Georgia used to have 250,000 Jews, who belonged to an ancient community that dated back thousands of years. They had endemic customs including special prayer styles. In the 1970s and 1990s, the majority of the Jewish population moved abroad (primarily to Israel), and only a few thousand in Georgia.[3]

In 1972, the synagogue had 3,150 congregants[4] but as of 2015 this number had fallen to only 16.[3]

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References
  1. Mitchell, Laurence. "Journey to Oni: a forgotten synagogue in Georgia's Racha province". Hidden Europe. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  2. "בית הכנסת החדש באוני". www.jewish-heritage.org.il. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
  3. "Georgian PM to attend anniversary of country's oldest synagogue, 120". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. August 21, 2015. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  4. Renner, Pamela (September 8, 2009). "Oni the Lonely". Tablet. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  5. "120th anniversary Oni synagogue - Jewish Heritage Europe". jewish-heritage-europe.eu. Archived from the original on 2018-08-25. Retrieved 2018-04-25.
  6. "Georgia-Israel celebrate 120th anniversary of Oni Synagogue". Business Political Insights. September 3, 2015. Retrieved April 28, 2018.


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