Sokal Synagogue

Sokal Synagogue

It was built in the 17th century on the site of an earlier wooden synagogue that was destroyed in a major city fire. The building is a defensive-style synagogue, distinguished by its massive brick walls, a characteristic feature of sacred architecture of that period.

The Jewish community of Sokal began to develop in the 16th century and played an important role in the city's history. The synagogue served as the religious and community center of the Jewish quarter, which was located in the southwestern part of Sokal.

During World War II, the synagogue ceased to function. In 1942, the Nazis established a Jewish ghetto nearby, where Jews from Sokal and surrounding towns were forcibly confined. Most of its inhabitants became victims of the Holocaust.

During the postwar Soviet period, the building was used as a warehouse, which led to its gradual deterioration. Today, the synagogue is in a state of disrepair, but its main structural elements, as well as parts of its interior and exterior decoration, have survived. Despite its condition, it remains a valuable historical and architectural landmark and an important reminder of the centuries-old history of Sokal's Jewish community.