New Synagogue Berlin

Although inserted into the row of houses on Oranienburger Strasse, the New Synagogue with its monumental building and orientalizing architecture breaks the line of sight. A surprising and very impressive building. You can visit it and/or take a guided tour. You can find more information here: centrumjudaicum.de.

With 3200 seats, the New Synagogue, inaugurated in 1866, was the largest Jewish place of worship in Germany at the time. When designing the building, the Berlin architect Eduard Knoblauch was inspired by the Moorish style of the Alhambra in Granada, visible from afar, for example in the gilded ribbed dome.
During the November pogroms in 1938 the synagogue was desecrated, but it was saved from major destruction; however, it was badly damaged during World War II and parts of the building were demolished in the 1950s.
In July 1988 the Foundation New Synagogue Berlin - Centrum Judaicum was established. The foundation's task was to «rebuild the New Synagogue in Berlin's Oranienburger Strasse as a permanent memorial for present and future generations and to create a center for the care and preservation of Jewish culture.» Following the tradition of the New Synagogue, the New Synagogue Berlin Foundation - Centrum Judaicum sees itself as a link between the past and the future. <centrumjudaicum.de>

Interesting building with an eventful history. Inside there is an exhibition that is not overloaded with a few contemporary witness films. There is also a changing exhibition - currently (beginning of April 2024): "Ukrainian Jewish women and children in Berlin".
Please note that there is a security check before entry with a baggage check, metal detector, etc. You should plan for this if it is full.
In addition, the information that although the front of the building and half of the synagogue were restored from the end of the 1980s, the large prayer room is unfortunately no longer there. There is now an open space here.