The Lost Shtetl Museum Acquires Historic Synagogue in Šiauliai

KPD, Karolina Grablevska.

The Lost Shtetl Museum of Jewish History in Šeduva has acquired the Chaim Frenkel Synagogue in Šiauliai. Built in 1907, the brick building is currently in poor condition, and the museum plans to restore and adapt it for future use. Following reconstruction, the synagogue is expected to resume its original function as an active Jewish house of worship.

According to Jonas Heraklis Dovydaitis, Director of the Lost Shtetl Museum, the abandoned synagogue was one of the first sights visible when entering Šiauliai, and a sign advertising the property for sale had been displayed on the building for some time.

“We realized that the fate of this significant site could not be left to chance. Therefore, the Lost Shtetl Museum, together with its founder—the Switzerland-based charitable organization YouthAid Foundation—decided to take responsibility and contribute to the preservation and revival of the synagogue. A renovation project lasting several years lies ahead, as the building is in an exceptionally poor state. However, we are committed to applying the same highest standards of quality that guided the creation of the museum in Šeduva,” says Dovydaitis.

Restoring the Synagogue’s Historic Function

The reconstructed synagogue is intended to once again serve as a place of worship. The idea of preserving the synagogue as an active prayer house originated with the Glasenberg family of Litvak descent, who initiated the Lost Shtetl Museum project, while funding for the restoration was provided by the YouthAid Foundation. The acquisition is therefore significant not only as an architectural heritage project but also as a living symbol of the continuity of Jewish religious and communal life.

Rabbi Yizchak Pevzner, head of the Chabad Lubavitch Center in Šiauliai, describes the synagogue’s revival as a profoundly moving moment for the Jewish community in Šiauliai and throughout Lithuania.

“The sounds of prayer and Torah study will return to Šiauliai and become more accessible to worshippers. At the same time, the connection between the Jewish community and the city of Šiauliai will be strengthened. I believe this place will become a focal point for Jews and for visitors wishing to learn about the rich heritage of Šiauliai’s Jewish community,” says Rabbi Pevzner.

The opportunity to once again have a functioning historic synagogue is particularly important for Jews living in Šiauliai and the surrounding region. Rašela Galinienė, Chairwoman of the Šiauliai Jewish Community, emphasizes both the symbolic and communal significance of the decision.

“Before the war, the Jewish community was an important part of the city, and synagogues were vibrant centers of religious and social life. An active synagogue today would serve as a reminder that this history is not merely a thing of the past,” says Galinienė.

An Important Landmark of Jewish Heritage in Šiauliai

The synagogue was built in 1907 at the initiative of leather factory owner Chaim Frenkel, adjacent to his factory. The two-story brick building replaced an earlier wooden synagogue that had stood on the same site.

The interior was arranged according to traditional Jewish religious practice: the ground floor was designated for men and the upper floor for women. The building also housed the synagogue caretaker, who maintained the premises and summoned worshippers to services. On a daily basis, the synagogue was attended primarily by factory workers, while major Jewish holidays brought together residents from the surrounding neighborhoods.

After the Soviet authorities nationalized the Chaim Frenkel factory in 1941, the synagogue’s fate changed as well. It was converted into a gymnasium, and extensive alterations to the interior resulted in the loss of most original features, including the aron kodesh, the sacred cabinet used to house Torah scrolls. The internal layout was modified, and some window openings were bricked up.

Nevertheless, despite the loss of interior elements and the building’s changing functions during and after the war, the exterior architecture has remained largely authentic and continues to reflect its original purpose. The Lost Shtetl Museum team aims to preserve the synagogue’s historical value during reconstruction while creating the conditions for it to once again become a living center of Jewish religious life.