The Semper Synagogue

Gottfried Semper, who commissioned the building of the Dresden synagogue, laid its foundation stone on June 21. The grounds were situated east of the Promenade Ring, with the Gondel harbor of 1820 bordering to the west and the military train station to the north. Because tall buildings surrounded the structure, leaving only the south side open, Semper had to set the main entrance on the south side between the tower and prayer room, although this ran contrary to the traditional east-west orientation, which faces Jerusalem. Although it served no practical function. Semper nonetheless created an imposing front facade for the west side.

1900

From the air

Semper, the builder, selected a cube as the basic form for the construction. The interior formed a clear and evenly balanced room for the community affairs. The exterior front corresponded with the classical elements of the Romanesque, with round arch friezes and a miniature gallery-like band of windows. Wholly in keeping with Romanesque principles, the interior layout was suggested by the external form. But Semper chose to design the interior in the Moorish, Byzantine style. Reminiscent of the Alhambra in Granada, the arcade in the Semper synagogue was set between the main pillars in the prayer room, and framed by jointed arches. In addition, leaf ornamentation decorated the arched vaults, creating a symmetry with the lattice wood-profile embellishments.

The Thoraschrein

The Bima

The Jewish community in Dresden flourished at the turn of the century, with membership rising to ca. 6000. By 1935 efforts had begun to add an extension with 150 addition seats. The synagogue was destroyed during the November Pogrom of 1938. Only one of the two Stars of David from the towers could be rescued. These Stars of David were as unusual as the synagogue itself. With the gold-plated stars, Gottfried Semper unified the old symbol from the commandment tablets with the Star of David that intertwines two isosceles triangles symbolizing the fusion of the visible and invisible world.

November 1938

Rescue of the star

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