CHIERI – City considers purchasing former synagogue
The City of Chieri, located in the Metropolitan City of Turin, “is committed to acquiring the former local synagogue.” Mayor Alessandro Sicchiero’s announcement followed the city council’s resolution to acquire the property at 8 Via Paci. A piece of Piedmontese Jewish history that for years has been held in private hands, the synagogue is now for sale following the current owner’s decision. “As a municipality we aim to proceed with the purchase, but we are not in a position to meet the costs of renovation, restoration, rehabilitation and securing the interior. While we await the Piedmont Region’s potential support to this project, along with the Jewish Community of Turin we will work to secure the necessary funds for the restoration and subsequently entrust the property to the Community for management,” the mayor explained.
The next step is to present a motion to the City Council to approve the acquisition of the complex where the Chieri synagogue was established in 1724. “This is an important heritage of Piedmontese Judaism. And the resolution approved by Mayor Sicchiero is a significant step towards returning the temple to public use,” Dario Disegni, president of the Jewish Community of Turin, told Pagine Ebraiche. “We are pleased with this development and appreciate the strong unity of purpose with the City of Chieri.”
The synagogue, a prime example of Piedmontese Baroque and one of the few adorned with frescoes, has not served its original function for nearly a century. Its legacy is preserved at Turin’s “Little Temple,” where the Tevah (the pulpit) and the Aron haKodesh (the Holy Ark in which the Torah Scrolls are kept) were relocated in the 1940s. “They seem to have been reborn to harmonize with their surroundings,” Disegni pointed out.
Although stripped of its furnishings, the Chieri synagogue building remains a symbol of the Jewish presence in the area, representing a heritage that should not be dispersed and offering potential for cultural and educational initiatives. The plan is to transform the ancient temple, following necessary renovations, into a museum that traces the history of Judaism in Chieri and Piedmont. “The exhibition and educational setup would be managed by the Jewish Community,” the mayor explained.
“Currently in a state of neglect and held privately, if purchased, the building would not be used for religious functions but would become a significant part of the Jewish Piedmont heritage trail. Fifteen synagogues are already included in this itinerary,” Disegni added. The agreement with the City of Chieri, he added, “is exemplary.” The next steps are in the hands of Italy’s Ministry of Culture and Region Piedmont.