Helsinki Synagogue, Orthodox synagogue in Kamppi, Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki Synagogue is a yellow-brick house of worship with three large two-story windows on the street side and a distinctive cupola framed by smooth stucco walls. The building was expanded in 1961 with a congregation center containing an auditorium, meeting rooms, and ritual baths.
The Jewish community received a plot from Helsinki authorities in 1905 and completed the building within a year. This marked the growing Jewish presence in the city and became the center of religious life for the community.
The interior displays lion sculptures from the first prayer room at Suomenlinna Fortress and features a blue vault with golden stars oriented toward Jerusalem.
The building is accessible to people with limited mobility as it features a level entrance. The best time to visit is outside service hours when the interior is open to visitors.
The building follows Jewish halacha traditions for prayer times and must adapt to Finnish summers when daylight lasts nearly through the entire night. This creates a singular challenge for maintaining religious practices under extreme lighting conditions.
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