Do You Believe in Miracles? Reviving the Trenčín Synagogue

The synagogue in Trenčín, Slovakia, built in 1912–1913 to designs by Berlin-based architects Richard Scheibner and Hugo Pál, is a landmark of synagogue architecture in Slovakia. With its striking domed form and blend of Art Nouveau and Oriental styles, it stands as an important monument of Jewish heritage in Central Europe.

Damaged during World War II and only partially restored in 1948, and then seized by the state in the 1950s, the synagogue survived threat of demolition in the 1970s. After decades of neglect, its interior has been restored in 2024—the most significant synagogue conservation project undertaken by the Slovak Jewish community. Today it serves the small but active revived Jewish community in Trenčín.

On November 9, 2025, the building will be inaugurated as Synagogue Trenčín – Space for Dialogue and Understanding. In 2026 it will also play a central role as one of the venues of the European Capital of Culture in Trenčín. The synagogue is part of the Slovak Jewish Heritage Route, a nationwide network connecting important sites of Jewish history.

Maroš Borský will present both the history and the current activities of the Trenčín Synagogue. He will also offer an update on the wider context of Slovak Jewish heritage and highlight new projects that are reshaping cultural memory and community life.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Maroš Borský studied art history and Jewish studies in Bratislava, Regensburg, London, Jerusalem, and Heidelberg. He has worked for over 25 years on Jewish heritage in Slovakia. Since 2012, he has directed the Jewish Community Museum in Bratislava and from 2014 to 2025 also led the Jewish Cultural Institute of the Federation of Jewish Communities.