The "Choral" Temple
The "Choral" Temple things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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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. שתהיה לכם שבת שלום וכל טוב.
arieh edelstein
00
The Coral Temple is the main synagogue in Bucharest. It has a very impressive interior with decorative two-level galleries for the women. However, we were told that many female worshippers are too old to climb the stairs up to the gallery. So a curtain has been set up shielding the right-side of the downstairs pews, allowing the women to sit there during services. We visited with a group of some 30 tourists and heard a senior member of the Jewish congregation explain about the history of the building and the Jewish Community. He was full of interesting information, but spoke so fast - like 100 km and hour - that some of the information was lost on us. There was security personnel at the entrance and bags had to be left there before entering the building.
T Hartberg
00
De foarte mult timp aveam in plan o vizita la Templul Coral din Bucuresti din str.Sf.Vineri nr.9-11 doar ca niciodata programul meu de lucru nu a coincis cu programul de vizitare. Astazi, 11 ian.2023 pe o zi ploioasa, cu vant, am reusit sa il vizitam. As fi vrut sa petrec mai mult timp inauntru, dar o vizita oficiala ne.a impiedicat sa urcam si la etaj....am promis ca vom reveni... Programul de vizitare este de Luni pana Joi de la ora 10 la 14.30 (nu 15 cum scrie pe site) iar Vineri de la 10 la 12.30 Taxa de vizitare este de 20 Ron de persoana pentru care primiti bilet si trebuie sa aveti un act de identitate. Sambata si Duminica nu se viziteaza. Templul Coral este cel mai mare lacas de cult mozaic din Bucuresti si una dintre cele mai frumoase sinagogi din lume. Ideea construirii acestui templu i.a apartinut unui evreu polonez din Bucuresti, fiind o replica a sinagogii Templegasse din Viena, in stil mauro-bizantin. Piatra de temelie a fost pusa in 1864 dar inaugurarea templului a fist amanata din cauza incendierii cladirii de catre nationalistii romani in 1866. La reparatiile efectuate a contribuit cu bani si Carol I al Romaniei. Cladirea a suferit avarii la cutremurul din 1940 si a fost devastata de legionari in timpul rebeliunii din 1941. Comunitatea evreiasca din Romania a avut inainte de cele 2 razboaie mondiale peste 1 milion de membri, a doua ca numar dupa Franta. In 1950 Templul Coral avea 3215 enoriasi iar in deceniul urmator numarul lor scade datorita emigrarii in Israel la circa 2600. Este o pagina de istorie pe care o cunosc foarte putin spre deloc si de aceea am de gand sa vizitez si sa aflu cat mai multe lucruri despre aceasta comunitate.. Chiar au fost mirati cei de acolo de interesul nostru dar, dincolo de deosebirile religioase, ramane istoria, care trebuie cunoscuta si respectata. In afara de noi, a mai fost o pereche de evrei din Israel carora am avut onoarea sa le fiu eu translator, intrucat domnul care ne.a prezentat succint istoria templului nu era vorbitor de limba engleza.
Maria Mihailov
00
It's an absolutely beautiful temple, and one of the main highlights is the rabbi. He walked all the way to the entrance to welcome each visitor in a number of languages, which he speaks fluently. One of the advantages of having him is that he’s able to tell us that story for the last 100 years with many items that wouldn’t be found elsewhere. This is a highly recommended temple, the one I like the best in central Europe.
George Benaroya
00
Visited during recent times so there was an increased police presence in the streets. There is an element of security inside, and a mandatory donation, which is handed to the rabbi who proceeds to tell you everything about everything related to the Choral Temple. Quite an experience. Afterwards you are free to walk around and to the upper levels. Beautiful building, well worth a visit.
Charlie Jay
00
Beautifully renovated synagogue. You can visit for a small sum of 10 lei. We were greeted by very confused and apparently overwhelmed guards. You must provide an ID at the entrance. The guide is excellent. He knows a lot of the history of the building and of jewish heritage in general. It is great to ask him questions. The synagogue in itself is stunning! You are free to take photos.
Caterina Strauneanu
00
Nearby Attractions Of The "Choral" Temple
Union Park
"Ion Luca Caragiale" National Theatre
Bucharest Fountains
Radu Vodă Monastery
University's Square
National Museum of Romanian History
Novotel Bucharest City Centre
Grand Hotel Bucharest
The Church of the "Stavropoleos" Monastery
"Saint Anthony" Church

Union Park
4.4
(6.5K)
Click for details

"Ion Luca Caragiale" National Theatre
4.8
(5.1K)
Click for details

Bucharest Fountains
4.8
(5K)
Click for details

Radu Vodă Monastery
4.8
(3.4K)
Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of The "Choral" Temple
Caru' cu bere
Restaurant Hanu' lui Manuc
Hanu' Berarilor Casa Oprea Soare
Grand Café Van Gogh
AveForchetta
Linea | Closer To The Moon
City Grill Covaci
Energiea
Simbio
Lacrimi și Sfinți

Caru' cu bere
4.5
(22K)
$$
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Restaurant Hanu' lui Manuc
4.6
(11.5K)
$$
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Hanu' Berarilor Casa Oprea Soare
4.5
(5.9K)
$$
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Grand Café Van Gogh
4.2
(4.2K)
$$
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Basic Info
Address
Strada Sfânta Vineri 9-11, București 030167, Romania
Map
Phone
+40 21 315 2535
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Website
facebook.com
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Reviews
Overview
4.5
(586 reviews)
Ratings & Description
cultural
accessibility
Description
The Choral Temple is a synagogue located in Bucharest, Romania. Designed by Enderle and Freiwald and built between 1864 and 1866, it is a very close copy of Vienna's Leopoldstadt-Tempelgasse Great Synagogue, which had been built in 1855–1858.
attractions: Union Park, "Ion Luca Caragiale" National Theatre, Bucharest Fountains, Radu Vodă Monastery, University's Square, National Museum of Romanian History, Novotel Bucharest City Centre, Grand Hotel Bucharest, The Church of the "Stavropoleos" Monastery, "Saint Anthony" Church, restaurants: Caru' cu bere, Restaurant Hanu' lui Manuc, Hanu' Berarilor Casa Oprea Soare, Grand Café Van Gogh, AveForchetta, Linea | Closer To The Moon, City Grill Covaci, Energiea, Simbio, Lacrimi și Sfinți

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