Built near the Grand Synagogue, it was used by the faithful to religiously study the Law and to say prayers, while it also served as a synagogue.

History of the structure

The Talmudic house was built in the Jewish district of Tykocin, Kaczorowo in the years 1772-1798 (the first time it appeared on the map of Tykocin was in 1798). It served as the so-called house of learning (beith midrash) where holy books were studied and people prayed. For this reason, the building was also called the Small Synagogue. During World War II, the Talmudic house was destroyed. After the war, the burnt walls of the building were pulled down. In the 1970s, the reconstruction of the building began. It was to be used as a museum. The body of the building and decorations of the facade were recreated, a basement was made; the original building was withou a basement. Since 1977 the building has been the seat of the Museum of Jewish Culture with a rich collection of Jewish ceremonial art. Thoroughly renovated at the beginning of the 21st century.

Description of the structure

The Talmudic house is located in the western part of the town, in the western frontage of Kozia Street, near the Grand Synagogue. The front elevation of the synagogue faces east. Late Baroque style. The building is made of brick, plastered, with a rectangular floor plan. A rectangular, single-storey body covered with a gambrel roof with pediments and dormers in the lower part of the roof. The elevations on a separate pedestal, divided by pilasters, with rounded corners, are topped with a prominent, profiled crowning cornice. Multi-panel windows placed in openings headed with segmental arches. The upper part of front elevation is three-axial, the entrance placed in the middle. Four-axis side elevations, entrance opening from the north. The interior layout is adapted to the new function of the building as a museum, with a centrally situated corridor leading to a large hall in the western parts of the building.

Visitor access: the building is open to visitors.

Author of the note: compiled by Joanna Kotyńska-Stetkiewicz, Regional Branch of the National Institute of Cultural Heritage in Białystok, 13 November 2014