Synagogue Palaprat, Historic synagogue in central Toulouse, France.
Synagogue Palaprat is a prayer house with a rectangular design, featuring marble decorations and Hebrew inscriptions above the entrance. The interior displays a carefully arranged layout with ornate details and traditional Jewish elements.
The building was constructed in 1857 and later gained recognition through an agreement with city authorities. This marked an important moment for acknowledging the Jewish presence in Toulouse.
The prayer hall is about nine metres wide and twelve long, with the bimah placed at its centre in keeping with Sephardic rite. The Torah ark stands on the east side, reached by three steps and framed by two pink marble pilasters. A women's gallery on three sides rests on six columns and four piers.
The building is located on Rue Palaprat in the historic district and remains open to visitors. It is wise to contact ahead before visiting since regular religious services take place there.
The synagogue stayed officially open through most of World War II. From 1940 to 1942 the poet Claude Vigée, born Claude Strauss, studied there with Rabbi Moïse Cassorla, meeting in secret with curtains drawn because the Vichy regime banned Jewish gatherings. Vigée later joined the Resistance and escaped to the United States.
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