The Great Synagogue was built between 1876 and 1878 according to a design by Leandro Marconi. Warsaw’s largest Jewish temple housed an impressive 2,200 seats.

The grand opening took place on 26th September 1878 and was attended by many guests, including the city authorities. The sermon, in Polish, was delivered by Isaac Cylkow, rabbi and translator of the Hebrew Bible into Polish.

The Great Synagogue was quickly recognised as one of the landmarks of the capital. It was the only synagogue that was marked on the general plans of Warsaw, alongside palaces, churches and other characteristic points of the city, and was recommended by tourist guides to the capital.

The synagogue was located on the border of the Jewish quarter. Sermons were preached there in Polish, and attended mainly by wealthy Jews who were assimilated into Polish culture.

However, it was enough to take a few steps away from the temple to find yourself at the heart of the Yiddish-speaking centre of Warsaw.

• Landscape with a Synagogue: The (Un-)Lost Tradition of Polish Synagogue Architecture // on Culture.pl
• Hebrew Works Differently: An Interview with Author & Translator Julia Fiedorczuk // on Culture.pl
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• Heaven’s Gates: Wooden Synagogues in the Territories of the Former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth // book profile on Culture.pl
• 9 Illustrious Synagogues You Can Visit in Poland // on Culture.pl
• 8 Remarkable Yiddish Books from Poland // on Culture.pl
• From ‘Last Sunday’ to ‘Last Shabbos’: Poland’s Legendary Jewish Tangos // on Culture.pl
• The Lost World of Yiddish Films in Poland // on Culture.pl
• The Rise & Fall of Polish Song // on Culture.pl

Unseen is available as a downloadable podcast, although it is best experienced through the Echoes geolocative storytelling app available for iOS and Android. After loading the app, search for soundwalks in Warsaw and you’ll find Unseen.