Moscow Choral Synagogue

The Moscow Choral Synagogue () is the main synagogue in Russia and in the former Soviet Union. It is located in central Basmanny District at 10, Bolshoy Spasogolinischevsky Lane, close to Kitai-Gorod Metro station.
==History==
The synagogue is located close to the former Jewish settlement in Zaryadye. Moscow city authorities had officially banned synagogue construction inside Kitai-gorod, thus the synagogue was built one block east from its walls. In 1881, the community hired architect Semeon Eibuschitz, an Austrian citizen working in Moscow. However, his 1881 draft plan was not approved by authorities. The second draft, also by Eibuschitz, was approved in July, 1886, and construction began on May 28, 1887. In 1888, the city intervened again, and required the builders to remove the completed dome and the exterior image of the Scrolls of Moses. Construction dragged on for five years, until the authorities once again banned it in 1892, giving two choices - sell the unfinished building or convert it into a charity. 
During the Russian Revolution of 1905, the government was forced to lift all bans on worship, so Jews, Old Believers, and other minority faith groups were free to build their places of worship anywhere. Eibuschitz had died in 1898, and so the community hired famous architect Roman Klein to finish the construction. The synagogue opened in 1906. It operated throughout the Soviet period, although authorities had annexed some parts of the original building for secular purposes (in 1923 and 1960). 
In September, 1948, Golda Meir, the first ambassador from Israel to the Soviet Union, paid an unauthorized visit to the synagogue, enraging the Soviet government .
The synagogue has been recently restored. It is also known for the famous choir of Michael Turetsky.
== See also ==
*Grand Choral Synagogue of St. Petersburg
==External links==
* History, the Jewish Congress
* Official site of the Moscow Choral Synagogue
==References==
* Улицкий, Е.Н., "История Московской еврейской общины: Документы и материалы (XVIII - начало ХХ в.)", М, КРПА ОЛИМП, 2006
* Лобовская, М.И., "История Московской хоральной синагоги", М, Дом еврейской книги, 2006
Category:Buildings and structures in Moscow
Category:Synagogues in Russia
Category:Jewish music
Category:Synagogues in Moscow
de:Choral-Synagoge (Moskau)
fr:Synagogue chorale de Moscou
he:בית הכנסת קורל (מוסקבה)
pl:Synagoga Chóralna w Moskwie