Overview
The new Jewish Synagogue was completed in 1902 after the previous one, built out of wood, burned down in the Great Fire of 1856. It was a magnificent stone building with two tall turrets, stained glass, and original artwork painted by local artist Aba Fenichel.
The Mielec Synagogue circa 1902 — photo courtesy Muzeum Historii Fotografii “Jadernowka” The Mielec Synagogue as seen from above — photo courtesy Muzeum Historii Fotografii “Jadernowka” A sketch by Aba Fenichel showing the interior of the Mielec Synagogue.
According to Shoah survivor Jack Sittsamer, the building seen on the left of the synagogue was the Beit Midrash, and the building on the right was the Kloyz. Jack Sittsamer says that his family attended the Beit Midrash for prayer, rather than the main synagogue which “was for the wealthy, less observant Jews” [this has not been verified by other sources]. He says that his mother’s family (Montag-Kirschenbaum) attended the Kloyz for prayer.
Destruction
At the outbreak of World War II, the German Army invaded Mielec and one week later, on Erev Rosh Hashanah, locked Jews inside the synagogue, poured gasoline on it, and lit it on fire. See the Shoah page for more information on this horrific event.
The Mielec Synagogue as printed on a German postcard ca 1943 — photo courtesy Bundesarchiv, B 162 Bild-00927 / Fotograf(in): Hippert, Kurt Robert Ferdinand Destroyed synagogue –– photo courtesy Muzeum Historii Fotografii “Jadernowka” Jews sweeping the street outside the Mielec Synagogue during occupation — photo courtesy Stanisław Wanatowicz Another picture of the burned-out Mielec Synagogue Mielec Synagogue in Winter 1939-1940 — photo courtesy Stanislaw Wanatowicz
Eventually the synagogue was demolished in 1943.
Memorial
Currently all that is left of the new Jewish Synagogue of Mielec is a stone memorial near its prior location, and one torah scroll that is part of the Oborski Museum collection.
Israel tourist guides visiting the Mielec Synagogue memorial in August 2021 — photo credit Michał Krawiec An Israeli tourist guide next to the Mielec Synagogue memorial, holding a photo of the Synagogue — photo credit Michał Krawiec The Mielec Synagogue Memorial in August 2021 — photo credit Ina Augustyn-Pietryka
