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| Major German synagogue reopened | Major German synagogue reopened |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Germany's biggest synagogue has reopened in a special ceremony attended by political leaders and Holocaust survivors from around the world. | Germany's biggest synagogue has reopened in a special ceremony attended by political leaders and Holocaust survivors from around the world. |
| The building in the east of Berlin, topped with a stunning blue dome, has been described as one of the jewels of Germany's Jewish community. | The building in the east of Berlin, topped with a stunning blue dome, has been described as one of the jewels of Germany's Jewish community. |
| The place of worship was built more than one hundred years ago. | The place of worship was built more than one hundred years ago. |
| But having survived both Nazi rule and communism, it had gradually fallen into a state of disrepair. | But having survived both Nazi rule and communism, it had gradually fallen into a state of disrepair. |
| The restoration was funded by Berlin city authorities with the help of lottery money. | The restoration was funded by Berlin city authorities with the help of lottery money. |
| Fast-growing community | Fast-growing community |
| The synagogue, on Rykestrasse, was set ablaze on Kristallnacht - the night in 1938 when many Jewish temples, homes and businesses were torched - but it narrowly avoided destruction. | The synagogue, on Rykestrasse, was set ablaze on Kristallnacht - the night in 1938 when many Jewish temples, homes and businesses were torched - but it narrowly avoided destruction. |
| It also survived atheist East Germany, although under communism the synagogue slowly fell into decay and disrepair. | It also survived atheist East Germany, although under communism the synagogue slowly fell into decay and disrepair. |
| class="" href="/1/hi/puffbox/promo/regular/6972946.inc">Synagogue in pictures | |
| Now the country's biggest synagogue has received a multi-million-dollar makeover and is open for worship again. | Now the country's biggest synagogue has received a multi-million-dollar makeover and is open for worship again. |
| Originally built in 1904, the neo-classical construction was closed for more than three years for the 4.5 million euro ($6 million, £3 million) refit. | Originally built in 1904, the neo-classical construction was closed for more than three years for the 4.5 million euro ($6 million, £3 million) refit. |
| Architects Ruth Golan and Kay Zareh have used three surviving black and white photographs of the original building to recreate its original appearance. | Architects Ruth Golan and Kay Zareh have used three surviving black and white photographs of the original building to recreate its original appearance. |
| Among the guests at the inauguration ceremony was a 94-year-old rabbi named Leo Trepp, who preached at the synagogue in the 1930s. | Among the guests at the inauguration ceremony was a 94-year-old rabbi named Leo Trepp, who preached at the synagogue in the 1930s. |
| He told the AFP news agency that the reopening was a "miracle". | He told the AFP news agency that the reopening was a "miracle". |
| The BBC's Steve Rosenberg, in Berlin, says that there has been a revival of Jewish life and culture in Germany in recent years, helped by an influx of mainly Russian-speaking Jews from former Soviet states. | The BBC's Steve Rosenberg, in Berlin, says that there has been a revival of Jewish life and culture in Germany in recent years, helped by an influx of mainly Russian-speaking Jews from former Soviet states. |
| This has helped modern Germany boast one of the fastest-growing Jewish communities in the world. | This has helped modern Germany boast one of the fastest-growing Jewish communities in the world. |
| What does the reopening of this synagogue mean to you? Will you be in attendance? Send us your comments using the form below. | What does the reopening of this synagogue mean to you? Will you be in attendance? Send us your comments using the form below. |