Not all synagogues are waiting for the state to do something. One, ironically in the town of Bytča (population 12,000) - the birthplace of Jozef Tiso, president of the Slovak wartime state who was charged with deporting more than 200,000 Jews from Slovakia - is up for sale.
The agency Ra-Realing has been trying to sell the synagogue for two years. It covers 400 square meters, and is in comparably good shape considering that it was used as a grain storage house for years.
Since the building is preserved by the Ministry of Culture, a potential buyer needs to have an acceptable plan for use - meaning the synagogue cannot be flattened or used for purposes "unsuited" for a cultural monument.
Ra-Realing believes that potential buyers might be interested in the property due to its low price. "We think that the price is low at 600,000 Sk," said the director of Ra-Realing, who asked not to be named. "But it is hard to find someone interested in it. First, it's a synagogue. That means that no one is willing to buy it for an office, or residential space. And as for a gallery, who wants to start a gallery in Bytča?" she said.
The agency director also said that the Jewish community had not shown any interest in buying it. Jozef Weiss, director of the Center of Jewish Culture in Bratislava said that the Jewish community had shown interest but not for such a high price.
Reconstructed synagogues
Trnava
Built in 1891, it is 20 meters by 16 meters. It was used as a storage house. In 1930, 2,728 Jews congregated there; most died in concentration camps.
Trenčín
Information not available
Prešov
The building is an orthodox synagogue, which was bought in 1884, and it was used since 1898 for the purpose of a synagogue.
Žilina
The synagogue was built in 1933-34, on the site of a synagogue that was built in 1881. In 1942, 3,500 Jews congregated there; in 1948 only 300.
Spišské Podhradie
Built in 1905, later used as a storage house for clothes. The size of the building is 11.5 by 13.5 meters.
