Museum of Jewish Culture

The Museum of Jewish Culture in Žilina is located in the building of a former Orthodox Synagogue. The relatively simple building conceals the original furnishings (mobiliari) in its interior. Today, the synagogue is also used for spiritual purposes, and a part of the exhibition where the Museum of Jewish Culture is installed is open to the general public.

The exhibits are displayed in the back, the so-called female part of the synagogue, which is separated from the prayer room by a wooden lattice through which the visitor can see the spatial arrangement of the prayer room. A proportion of the exhibits are sacred objects that are the property of the Jewish religious community in Žilina.

The most important exhibit is the hand-written book of the law (Sefer Torah), which consists of a long strip of parchment wound on two bars. An interesting exhibit is certainly the hand-embroidered wedding canopy, the so-called chupa from 1907, under which wedding ceremonies were performed. Through the exhibits, each visitor has the opportunity to learn more about the specific culture and life of Jews, as well as the basics of Judaism.