The "Choral" Temple — Attraction in Bucharest

The Choral Temple: A Peaceful Retreat in the Heart of Bucharest Tucked away in the bustling heart of Bucharest, the Choral Temple (Templul Coral) is a serene, architectural gem that offers a rare sense of tranquility amidst the city’s vibrant chaos. Founded in the 19th century, this synagogue holds deep historical and cultural significance for Bucharest's Jewish community and stands as a monument to resilience and tradition.

Located on Strada Șerban Vodă, just a short walk from the bustling streets of the Old Town, the Choral Temple is easily missed if you're not specifically looking for it. Yet, for those who seek it out, it offers a quiet retreat and a beautiful example of neo-Moorish and Byzantine architectural styles, with intricate details and a stunning interior.

Architecture: A Blend of Styles The synagogue’s architectural style is one of its most striking features. The neo-Moorish design is immediately recognizable, with its distinctive domed roof and delicate ornamentation. The grand entrance, framed by elegant arches and detailed carvings, sets the tone for what lies inside. The facade features intricate geometric patterns and stained glass windows, creating a harmonious balance of light and structure.

Upon entering the temple, visitors are greeted by a sense of awe. The interior is even more magnificent than the exterior, with vibrant stained-glass windows casting colorful light onto the sanctuary’s ornate walls. The wooden pews are arranged in a way that makes the space feel intimate, even though it can accommodate a large congregation. Above, the grand chandelier glistens, illuminating the room with soft light, while the Torah ark at the far end is beautifully carved and richly adorned.

The Choral Temple also has a fantastic acoustic quality, which is why it’s often used for concerts and cultural events. The combination of design and acoustics creates an atmosphere of reverence and peace — a perfect setting for worship, contemplation, or even a quiet visit to take in the beauty.

A Rich Historical Legacy Built in the late 19th century, the Choral Temple is more than just a place of worship; it’s a part of Romania's Jewish heritage. The synagogue was founded by the Romanian Jewish community, who had established a strong presence in Bucharest. Over the years, the synagogue has witnessed significant moments in history, including the hardships of World War II, the communist era, and the eventual post-communist revival of Jewish culture in Romania.

During the interwar period, the temple was known for its vibrant choral music and for being a cultural center for the Jewish community. The Bucharest Jewish Choir performed regularly here, and the temple became a gathering place for both religious and cultural events. Today, the temple continues to be an active house of worship and a center for Jewish life in the city, though it is also open to visitors who wish to learn about its history and architecture.

A Place for Reflection and Connection Whether you are a visitor with an interest in history, architecture, or simply seeking a moment of peace, the Choral Temple offers an oasis of calm. While Bucharest can feel fast-paced and crowded, the temple offers a quiet place to step back and reflect. The serenity of the space, coupled with its historical weight, invites contemplation and connection.

In Summary: The Choral Temple in Bucharest is a beautiful and historic synagogue that offers more than just religious significance. With its stunning architecture, peaceful atmosphere, and rich legacy, it’s a must-visit for anyone exploring the cultural heart of the city. It’s a space that invites you to slow down, appreciate the beauty of the moment, and reflect on the deep history embedded...

Do not enter if you are a female visiting alone. I had the worst and most shocking experience I have ever had in my whole life which I have already reported to local authorities. Last week I was in Bucharest as a tourist and I decided to stop at the temple. It was 10:10 am (20/09/2024) and there was nobody inside the courtyard. I entered the small gate and took 5 steps towards the center of the courtyard. Suddenly I was reached by a a security guard who started to scream and shout at me, literally out of nowhere and for no reason why (no previous interactions). I was dressed with a pair of long trousers, a long sleeve blouse, a jacket, a pair of trainers. Neutral dark colors. I have no tatoos, no hair dye, no necklaces, no earrings, no bracelets, no piercings, nothing which could draw the attention or potentially be against the access rules to the courtyard of a temple. The guy, who I think is an armed psychiatric patient, told me that before passing I should have said hello to him and that I had to explain to him why I hadn't said hello otherwise I wouldn't have gotten out of there. Needless to say, the guard wasn't present at the entrance and I couldn't have seen him (another man dressed in civilian clothes was positioned in a side corner hidden in the shade, impossible to notice unless you turned your head to the left on purpose). All this was a pretext to start an argument and scare the life out of a female tourist. Moreover there is actually no rule that obliges a visitor to greet a guard who stands 7 meters away from the entrance. He continued to raise his voice first asking me to explain to him why I hadn't said goodbye to him and then without letting me speak he shouted to go away and then changed and told me that I wouldn't come out if I didn't explain to him why I hadn't said goodbye to him. When I realized it wasn't a joke, after about 40 seconds, I first backed away and then ran away. The courtyard was in fact empty(no visitors)and there was no one outside except a woman who was begging. Finally I heard him shouting something against foreigners but I was already running away. The worst experience of my entire life. This man is simply a madman who escaped from the asylum, but for some strange reason he finds himself working as an armed guard in a temple, posing a huge danger to any visitor, especially if alone. Therefore, please do not enter the door of the temple courtyard if you are alone, especially if you are a woman travelling alone. Be very careful, for your personal safety. I cannot say what would have happened if I had continued the discussion with this mentally disturbed individual. I preferred not to answer any further and run away from there, I even called a taxi to prevent him from following me and I watched my back for the entire holiday. Visit only in groups(3/4 people) and if anything similar happens, report to the authorities. To those in charge of the temple. You should be ashamed of hiring guards who, instead of protecting visitors, constitute an enormous potential danger to their safety. I could not even visit the temple courtyard, let alone entering its premises. I will never come back to Bucharest or Romania again (and I strongly advise against going alone, visit in a group instead) because I have noticed a very aggressive attitude of too many individuals( all over 40 years old) that exudes neglected mental illness, a visceral hatred against women and foreigners. I didn't feel safe in the 8 days I spent between Bucharest and Cluj, this was the worst and most dangerous episode, but unfortunately I have had other bad experiences with people who created fights out of nothing looking for stupid excuses to argue with strangers and people who replied shouting at...

The most unwelcoming, unpleasant and upsetting experience I have ever had and would have never imagined about the European capital's central synagogue (and I visited literally hundreds of synagogues from Nordics to South Africa and New Zealand and from Far East and Oceania to South America).

Entrance cost 20 Lei, ok I get it. We came there Friday afternoon but unfortunately did not have cash on us (and they accept only cash, of course, but... ok) so we decided to skip visiting the inside and just take some photos from outside; the guard kindly explained where we can take pictures from. Alright till now.

Suddenly, out of the blue a very rude and noisy guy popped up and started literally barking and yelling at us and waving a finger "Pay! No pay - out!! Go!! Pay!! Go!! Out! Out!!!" (That was pretty much his whole vocabulary in English and a lot of pointing a finger.)

I tried to explain that we do not go inside because we do not have cash, just taking pictures of the facade and that this was what the guard told us, that we are visiting from Israel and wanted to check the Saturday service times to participate, but the man kept loudly barking "Out! Go! Out!!!" almost physically pushing us through the gate.

Ok, English did not work out, I tried to speak to him in Hebrew, yet to no avail: the guy had no clue, not a word in Hebrew, just yelling "Out!!".

And it is not like he was very busy to just answer a couple of simple questions (not to mention why we cannot take pictures from outside) - there were no visitors when we were there.

I have no idea what his role in the congregation and the synagogue is but if this is the frontman and the face of the Jewish community of Bucharest that the tourists meet, I feel very sorry for the congregation.

However beautiful building with fascinating history would that be, if it is represented by a totally inadequate person it is nothing more but concrete and glass. Shame...

אנשי קהילת בוקרשט היקרים, אני לא שייך לקהילתכם אבל אני מתבייש ומצטער שככה נראים הפנים שהמבקרים שלכם פוגשים. פשוט בושה. ואני אדאג לפרסם זאת גם באתרים יהודיים נוספים כדי שהמבקרים ידעו למה לצפות.

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