The Great Synagogue of Slonim is a survivor twice over. It survived the centuries in a region where wooden and masonry synagogues alike were destroyed in vast numbers, and it survived the disappearance of the community that built and used it. Architecturally, it belongs to the baroque tradition of synagogue building in this part of Europe: a compact, almost fortress-like exterior with heavy walls and a high roof, opening on an interior of unexpected height where the prayer hall rises to a vault. Stucco ornament, mouldings and the remains of painted decoration are still visible, along with the framework of the structure that held the reader's platform at the centre of the room. Today the building stands without a roof over parts of its structure and without the community it was made for. Its future depends on funding, expertise and political will, and the film records it as it is, neither restored nor lost, at a moment when documentation itself has value. Filmed in 4K, with careful low-light interior work, the programme suits strands on sacred sites, Jewish heritage in Europe and endangered architecture.
