The Görlitz Synagogue on Otto-Müller-Strasse is one of the handful of synagogues in Germany to survive the Kristallnacht pogrom of November 1938, when the systematic destruction of Jewish institutions across Germany left almost no synagogue building intact. The building has been beautifully restored and now operates as a cultural forum and place of interfaith gathering.
The interior is a stunning example of Moorish Revival architecture, with elaborately painted ceiling vaults, arched galleries, and the original wooden bimah (reading platform) still in place. The synagogue was dedicated in 1911 and served the Görlitz Jewish community until the deportations of World War II eliminated it. Visiting today, knowing the fate of the community it served, is a sobering experience. The cultural forum hosts concerts, exhibitions, and Jewish community events.