This time I am sharing my experience from the visit of Groningen's famous Synagoge. The largest synagogue in the northern Netherlands.
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| Source: vanplan.nl |
As soon as I entered the Synagoge, I was offered a tour around it with an English-speaking (!) guide. which I eagerly accepted (because it was the first time I was offered a tour around a house of worship).
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| View from upper level |
The tour guide spoke fluent English. He started by telling us the history of the Synagoge and explaining the purpose of several elements used in praying while at the same time describing the Jewish community in Groningen at that time. As a rule, we were obliged to wear kippah, but I was wearing a knit cap which was an acceptable substitute. During the tour the guide also showed us the relics of the Synagoge, as well as telling us about traditional celebrations in Jewish calendar.
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| Souvenirs on the way out |
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| Images of Jews living in Groningen before war |
I would like to say that was slightly amazed by the opportunity of taking a tour in a place of worship. The guide told us that current Jewish community is small in the city and, therefore, it is feasible to organise tours with tickets, souvenirs, literature etc. In my opinion the commercialisation might also be due to the interactions between international visitors of the city (which are in abundance) and the local Jewish community which is referred as 'Hosts and Guests' theory (Edensor, 2009). The commercialisation can literally be seen when entering the Synagoge where the front hall with books, souvenirs and a ticket seller is separated from the 'official part' (praying places, relics etc.) by the fence.
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| Fence dividing the Synagoge into two parts |
Edensor, T. (2009). Tourism. Elsevier.
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