The present Daugavpils Synagogue – Kaddish House of Prayer – was built in 1850. It spatially fills the corner of a block in the city centre, but its facades face Lāčplēša and Cietokšņa Streets. The building was renovated after the Second World War. In 2005, the building was renovated with funds also provided by the children of the artist Mark Rothko, who live in the United States and maintain ties with their father’s hometown. The opening of the synagogue after the renovation was attended by the State President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga.

The second floor of the synagogue houses the museum “Jews in Daugavpils and Latgale”. The museum’s exhibition tells about Jewish life and living traditions in Latgale and Daugavpils since 1935. The exhibition shows the changes in the number of Jews, family records in photographs, household and religious objects, as well as various publications: magazines, calendars and books about Jewish life in Daugavpils and Latgale.
Accompanied by local guide – local historian Joseph Rocko, every visitor and interested person of Daugavpils can get acquainted with the synagogue and the exhibition, learning interesting and touching stories of local Jewish families, historical aspects of Jewish life, prayer traditions, the importance of the altar in the synagogue, etc.

Entrance fee – donations.

Photos from Daugavpils TIC archives.