Rykestrasse Synagogue

Rykestrasse Synagogue, Germany's largest synagogue, is located in the Prenzlauer Berg neighbourhood in the Pankow borough of Berlin. built the synagogue in 1903/1904. It was inaugurated on 4 September 1904, in time for the holidays of and around Rosh haShana. The synagogue stands off the street alignment and is reached by a thoroughfare in the pertaining front building.The years 1902 to 1933, comprising the bulk of Jewish faithful of mainstream , Orthodox and Reform affiliation, grew strongly in membership in the second half of the 19th century. With the expansion of Berlin into new neighbourhoods the need of additional synagogues within a walking distance became urgent. However, the Jewish community could not fulfill all the claims for additional premises, so many private synagogues emerged scattered over the city. Most Jews in Prenzlauer Berg, however, could not afford to establish a Vereinssynagoge with their own funds. So in 1902 Jüdische Gemeinde zu Berlin bought the site in and its building master Johann Hoeniger was commissioned to design and supervise the building of this new synagogue.Construction started in 1903 and at noon on Sunday, 4 September 1904, the synagogue was inaugurated with Handel's prelude in D major and the Ma Tovu prayer led by cantor David Stabinski, Rabbi and Rabbi Adolf Rosenzweig preaching. Almost the complete board of Jüdische Gemeinde zu Berlin and many members of the elected assembly of representatives attended the ceremony, while the city of Berlin sent its school councillor Carl Michaelis and, president of the city parliament.