Synagogue of Boulogne-Billancourt

Boulogne-Billancourt,Synagogue of Boulogne-BillancourtFrance
Synagogue of Boulogne-Billancourt
43 Rue des Abondances, 92100, Boulogne-Billancourt, France
The synagogue of Boulogne-Billancourt was built in 1911 by the architect Emmanuel Pontremoli, and decorated with geometric motifs by the painter Gustave-Louis Jaulmes. It has been registered as a historical monument since July 10, 1986.

History

The synagogue in Boulogne-Billancourt was built thanks to the generosity of Baron Edmond de Rothschild, a philanthropist and prominent figure in Zionism, near his castle. From 1881, members of the Jewish community in Boulogne-sur-Seine began raising funds to build an oratory to accommodate an increasingly large community.

The inauguration ceremony took place on September 21, 1912, in the presence of Alfred Lévy, Grand Rabbi of the Central Consistory of French and Algerian Jews, and Jacques-Henri Dreyfuss, Grand Rabbi of Paris.

During World War II, the synagogue was turned into a stable. It was rehabilitated after the war.

Architecture

The land itself, located at the corner of Rue des Abondances and Rue de l'Abreuvoir, is taken from the Edmond de Rothschild Park, adjacent to the castle near the Bois de Boulogne.

A grandson of a rabbi and recipient of the Prix de Rome, the architect Emmanuel Pontremoli was chosen to design the plans for this establishment. For this commission, he drew inspiration from Byzantine references, which were fashionable at the time, as was the case for the Neuilly synagogue or the one at Chasseloup-Laubat.

Rabbis

The main rabbis who have officiated in this synagogue are:

  • Haïm Joel Stourdzé (1878-1934), father of Rabbi Samy Stourdzé, member of the Resistance, deported and died in Auschwitz
  • Halperin
  • Henri Saül Guedj (1962-1968)
  • Choukroun
  • Alain Attia
  • Philippe Touitou (1990 - 2003)
  • Haï Belhassen (2003 - 2012)
  • Didier Kassabi (since 2013)