The historic shul
The municipal administration of Stanislav, Ukraine, today known as Ivenu-Frankyevsk, has included the Central Beis Knesset of the city in the historic composite of its local traditional heritage.
This shul, which was taken over by the Communists, was returned to the Jewish community in 5750 (1990). Extensive restorations were undertaken in 5757. In addition to the main synagogue itself, the building also houses a mikveh, kosher restaurant, library and a hostel. In recent years, however, the building began decaying dangerously and had to be closed down.
The city had a community of some 25,000 Jews before the Second World War, which represented over a third of its total population. The Jewish community was very active, providing a full gamut of services. This activity was outlawed with the overtaking of the Soviet regime of the entire region in 5699.
With the retreat of the Red Army from the area, the local Ukrainians unleashed a pogrom on the Jewish community. But the population grew nonetheless with the mass influx of Jewish refugees from Soviet Poland fleeing from the Germans. The numbers swelled to over 40,000 by 5703, when all of the Jews held in labor camps surrounding the city were killed. From those 40,000 Jews, only 100 survived.
