Sunday 25 November 2012

Synagoge Groningen

Groningen Synagogue in Holland has repurposed half of the old synagogue as an art gallery and exhibition space - this is separated from the sanctuary by a grille. In some ways, this is similar to the arrangement in place at Sandy's Row, where the hall upstairs is used for exhibitions - although this has not been without controversy - with some people wanting artwork depicting the human figure covered while services are in progress - even though the 'hall' upstairs is separated from the synagogue by a mechitzah.

Groningen was the spiritual heart of Dutch Chazzanuth before the War - many Chazzanim in London who served in the United Synagogue came from Groningen, and of course, the original leaders of the services at Sandy's Row would all have been familiar with the Dutch minhag.

Nowadays, the community in Groningen meets twice monthly, just as we do at Sandy's Row - although at Sandy's Row we hope to gear up to weekly services and Friday night services in the near future.

The Cantors of Groningen also wrote down in musical notation the Dutch Ashkenazi minhag. This resource is being used to reconstruct the musical tradition.

 A revival of sorts of Dutch minhag is currently in progress, with projects in place to record the nusach in audio, so a new generation can learn their heritage.



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