THE
SHULHOYF (the Synagogue Courtyard), the
social, educational and religious institutions, will spring back to life
in the buildings surrounding the shulhoyf. There visitors will be able
to visit the synagogue itself as well as the Hebrew and Yiddish Day School,
the public bath house, the Rabbi's house, and the distinguished yeshivah,
the Kibbutz Ha-Prushim, which was for centuries one of the glories of
the town of Eishyshok.People will be able to celebrate their family events
such as weddings and bar and bat mitzvot in the ancient synagogue and
its courtyard and to view exhibits and occasional staged events depicting
these and other ceremonies and festivals throughout the centuries.Shulhoyf
, has always been the spiritual and social center of the shtetl. At one
of two synagogues to be located there, one modelled after an Eishyshok
synagogue, another after the magnificent wooden synagogue of nearby Olkenik,
which was described by Napoleon as one of the most beautiful buildings
he had ever seen, the visitors can pray,celebrate births, hold bar and
bat mitzvoth, or even have weddings, perhaps choosing to follow some of
the shtetl wedding customs described in There Once Was a World.
They may also wish to pay a visit to the house of the shtetl Rabbi, to
hear words of wisdom typical of those that inspired generations of guests,
or they may go to Yiddish School or to the heder. Traditionally the Shulhoyf
always had a Yeshiva, and ours will be modelled after the renowned Yeshiva
of the Haffetz Hayyim in Radun where people can study. Students will also
be able to study at the Hebrew school, where a variety of unique educational
programs and activities will be presented, young children can attend the
beautiful kindergarten. From the Shulhoyf, visitors might wish to go to
the public bath with its Mikvah, and on to the House of Eternity with
tombstones dating back to 1097 where memorial services will be held.
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