The Choral Synagogue is one of the last surviving traces of Smolensk's once-substantial Jewish community. Built in 1904 in a Moorish-influenced eclectic style, it is a striking building with horseshoe arches and coloured brickwork that sets it apart from both the Orthodox churches and the Soviet buildings that surround it. The exterior has been restored in recent years and is in reasonable condition.
The synagogue was closed by Soviet authorities in 1935 and used for various non-religious purposes. It was returned to the Jewish community after 1991, and there is now a small Jewish congregation in Smolensk. The building is open periodically and serves as a reminder of a community that was almost entirely destroyed during the German occupation. A visit here provides an important counterpoint to the military history that dominates most accounts of Smolensk.