The synagogues of Switzerland

This richly illustrated book systematically presents the approximately thirty synagogues of Switzerland for the first time. It not only depicts their architecture but also understands the synagogues as a metaphor for the changes in Jewish society. Ron Epstein demonstrates how the history of the emancipation of the Jewish population is reflected in the synagogue buildings of Switzerland. With the equal rights granted to Jews in 1874, the synagogues planned for the Jewish communities became a suitable means to manifest their newly acquired self-understanding outwardly. They document the decision-making and planning processes that aimed to give a contemporary face to a newly defined building type. The knowledge about the history and origin of Swiss synagogues allows for a deeper understanding of these Jewish cultural buildings beyond their mere existence.