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Groningen Synagogue Building Saved

September 19, 1977
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The monumental 70-year-old synagogue building in Groningen, which has stood empty for the past two years, will not be demolished but restored with a government and municipal subsidy and become a cultural center. During the Nazi occupation of The Netherlands most of the Groningen Jews were deported to their death.

After the war, the synagogue building proved much too large for the needs of the small remaining congregation which has ever since held services in what was formerly it youth synagogue. The synagogue was later used as a factory and became dilapidated. When the factory left the building it was at first decided to demolish the structure but a committee of Groningen citizens, largely non-Jewish, started an action to save the building which has been a local landmark. This action has now been crowned with success.

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