.
September 27 - The Council of the Cultural Center decided that a
sum of 100.000.00 DIN from the total income of the Cultural Center
should be given as an investment for the maintenance of the synagogue.
October - Samuel H. Abramson, the representative of the World Jewish
Congress, visited Subotica to see the condition of the synagogue.
October - The Institute for City Planning and Geodesy in Subotica
gave out the urbanistic-technical conditions for the revitalization
of the synagogue and the repair of the façade under the no. U-194/79,
for the request of the Cultural Center from Subotica as the investor.
The designers: Piroska Mesaros, a graduate engineer of architecture,
Gavra Braun, a graduate civil engineer, Silvia Derfler, a building
technician, Branka Lazarev Boca, a graduate electrical engineer and
Ervin Kladek, a graduate forestry engineer.
1980
February 28 - According to the Contract no. 04-15-16/64-2, the Community
of Self-managing Organization of Culture of Vojvodina from Novi Sad
gave 200.000 DIN to the Cultural Center in Subotica so that the work
on the restoration and revitalization of the synagogue could be continued.
April 24 - The synagogue was entrusted to the Cultural Center in
Subotica for protection, maintenance, restoration, adaptation and
revitalizing.
October 10 - A contract was signed between the Cultural Center and
the ”Zanat” Craftsmen's Guild from Subotica, according to
which the Zanat undertook to carry out carpentry, tinning and construction
works.
October 20 - December 23. - The first phase of the work on the reconstruction
and restoration of the roof of the synagogue was finished. Scaffolding
was erected under the cupola, then the whole construction of the cupola
was lifted with a hydraulic press - with a crane weighing from 20
to 100 tons. The roof construction was lifted to its original height.
The roof construction of the cupola was put back into its original
position. The lifting of the cupola with the hydraulic presses was
carried out between December 15-20.
October 29 - A contract was signed between the Cultural Center and
the Building Company ”Novogradnja” and Labor Organization
”Standardprojekt” where the latter undertook to perform
the technical and economic supervision of the works in process.
October 14 - The Cultural Center was assigned 2.000.000 DIN by the
Municipality of Subotica for the maintenance and reparation of the
synagogue.
November 26 - Laslo Kiralj was appointed to perform the technical
and economic supervision of the adaptation of the cupola of the synagogue.
1981
February 10 - May 31 - The ”Zanat” Craftsmen's Guild carried
out the following works on the synagogue: replacement of the decayed
structure, replacement of some parts of the wooden construction of
the cupola, making a mould for concrete gutters, tiling of the cupola
and the side roofs.
May 14 - A contract was signed between the Cultural Center and ”Zanat”
for the maintenance and restoration of the cupola and the rest of
the synagogue. The total cost according to the contract was 1.960.000
DIN.
December 28. - The second phase of the works on the restoration,
reconstruction and revitalizing of the synagogue was completed by
the end of November in 1981. This phase included carpentry, tinning,
tiling and the building work on the roof and the main cupola. Since
new cogged tiles were expensive, a compromise was made whereby the
old cogged tiles were coated with a special paint which extended their
durability. With the completion of this phase, the synagogue was protected
from rain. The unfinished parts of the roof were covered temporarily
until the next phase of works.
1982
June 9 - The Executive Council of the Commune of Subotica charged
the Intermunicipal Bureau for the Protection of Cultural Monuments
(IBPCM) ”Severna Backa” from Subotica to carry out building
work the synagogue.
April 12 - The Assembly of the Commune of Subotica granted 2.000.000
DIN to the IBPCM ”Severna Backa” for work on the synagogue
in 1982.
The tinning and the carpentry on the roof and the erection of the
scaffolding around the four side cupolas began.
1983
May 9 - The IBPCM took over the building in order to continue the
work on the restoration, reconstruction and revitalization according
to the agreed plan.
May 5 - December 28 - During this year building work carried out
included the demolition of the half-hanging facade scaffolding for
the four turrets, pulling down the decayed parts of the attic of these
turrets and then building and plastering the attic. Carpentry work
and tiling included the removal of the enameled cogged tile, the removal
of the decayed construction, the replacement of planks in the niches
and the replacement of all rotten parts of the wooden construction
of the small cupolas, and tiling the roof with cogged tiles. The same
work was carried out on the lower parts of the cupolas and the rubble
was removed from the attic space. Tinning included the removal of
the parts of the roof made of zinc plates and the manufacturing of
the plates made of copper. The total cost of the works was 3.386.516,40
DIN.
1984
March 22 - June 30 - Work on the roof included the erection of the
scaffolding for the tinning, the removal of decayed planks from the
two small cupolas, installing new planks, and installing copper plates
on the south-east cupola.
November 28 - A contract was signed between the IBPCM and the Craftsmen's
Guild ”Zanat” for carrying out the tinning and carpentry
on the synagogue's two small cupolas. The preliminary invoice of the
contract was 1.355.936,50 DIN.
December 28 - The IBPCM prepared a plan for carrying out the reclamation,
restoration and the reconstruction of the synagogue. The first phase
would include the tiling in 1986, the reclamation of the façade in
1987 and the completion of the façade in 1988. The second phase would
include the definition and the working out of the project documentation
in the same period and the third phase would include the beginning
of the works on the interior in 1989.
1985
Work on the small cupolas continued.
September 11 - With a decree, the Executive Council of the Assembly
of the Commune gave the synagogue to the National theater for temporary
use for the season 1985/86.
September - The Bureau for Urbanism and Geodesy produced the Urbanistic-technical
terms for the temporary arrangement of the immediate surroundings
of the synagogue.
1986
April 24 - A contract was signed between the IBPCM and ”Zanat”
for the repair of the lightning rod of the synagogue. The price in
the preliminary invoice of the contract was 2.694.588 DIN. Another
contract was signed between them for the carpentry and tinning of
the big cupola. The price in the preliminary invoice of the contract
was 16.319.688,00 DIN.
March - ”Standardprojekt” completed the Plan for the repair
of the damaged electrical installations in the synagogue.
May 22 - Endre Levai was appointed to supervise the work on the
repair of the ligtning rod on the synagogue.
May 5 - December 1 - Work continued on manufacturing a platform
in the big cupola for the scaffolding, making the scaffolding for
the tinning and carpentry, preparing the mold for the sheet copper,
replacing the decayed wooden components in the big cupola, preparing
building material for the big cupola.
April - June - Manufacturing the lightning rod.
1987
January - The Society of Architects of Subotica, in cooperation
with the Council for the Development and Building in Subotica, announced
an internal competition to solicit ideas for the eventual use of the
synagogue. Members of the Society of Architects could enter the competition.
The closing date for the admission of the applications was May 16.
December 31 - The IBPCM brought declared that the synagogue and
the surrounding complex of Jewish buildings - the ritual slaughterhouse
and the building of the Jewish Community - was a monument.
1988
March 4 - A team of experts from the IBPCM inspected the synagogue
and concluded that the National theater did not take adequate care
of the building and performed various non-professional works and interventions
on the interior and the exterior of the building for their own purposes
which permanently damaged the condition of that unique cultural monument.
March 4 - The IBPCM awarded Filip Rihter the contract to carry out
the painting of the central cupola of the synagogue. The price of
the preliminary invoice of the work was 7.090.000 DIN.
May 15 - November 22 - The independent craftsman Peter Balint, a
bricklayer from Subotica carried out the following works on the synagogue:
The isolation of the external side of the walls, the repair of small
damaged ornaments, replacing plaster ornaments, recessing the facade
walls for installing the insulation, plastering the walls of the cupola,
digging around the pillars, repairing the floors, plastering the inner
sides of the walls.
May - The National theater temporarily vacated the synagogue so
that the restoration of the painted ornaments of the central cupola
could be carried out.
It was concluded that the National theater was devastating the immediate
surroundings of the synagogue by erecting a tent-like construction.
June 29 - The Bureau for the inspection of building material of
the University of Civil Engineering and the Research-Educational Institute
for Civil Engineering in Subotica gave a report to the IBPCM about
the testing of the qualitative characteristics of the built-in materials
in the construction elements of the synagogue.
June 27 - October 17 - Preparatory work for the restoration of the
painted decoration of the central cupola, plastering the central cupola.
Filip Rihter surveyed the painted friezes and stencil patterned ornaments,
surveyed and copied the friezes and ornaments, scraped the walls,
painted and plastered the walls, whitewashed the walls and the ceiling
with 4 year old lime, coated the walls with green soap, plastered
the walls and the ceiling, soaped it for the second time, applied
the first layer of paint, stenciled the colored friezes, and cut the
stencils.
July 12 - An annex to the contract between the IBPCM and Filip Rihter
regarding the painting of the central cupola was signed. The cost
of the works was 10.180.000 DIN.
July - ”Standardprojekt” checked the statistical stability
of the inner wire-lattice cupola. The main planner was Laslo Kiralj.
October - ”Standardprojekt” installed lavatories in the
synagogue.
October 3 - Stained glass decorations were removed for restoration
by Milan Stanisic from Sombor. These included 8 semi-circular vitrage
windows with the size of 320 x 178 cm, 28 small vitrage windows in
the cupola sized 62 x 98 cm and a new circular vitrage lantern on
the cupola with a diameter of 300 cm.
October 18 - December 16 - Filip Rihter stenciled the friezes and
the walls, cut the stencils, painted the stencils, and bronzed the
plaster statues. Work stopped because of cold weather.
November 24 - The IBPCM and the designer Gabor Demeter completed
the Main plan for the lavatories in the stairway areas of the synagogue.
1989
December 26, 1988. - April 19, 1989 - Works on the plumbing, the
sewage system and the electrical installation of the lavatories were
carried out.
February 17 - The National Theater resumed use of synagogue.
April - The Bureau concluded that during theater performances, the
existing and the restored parts of the building were being damaged.
May 18 - A contract was signed between the IBPCM as the customer
and the factory ”Opeka” from Osijek, the Basic Organization
of Associated Labor ”Trudbenik” from Cakovo, for the manufacture
of specially shaped.
August 14- A contract was awarded to Milan Stanisic, a stained glass
maker from Sombor, for the restoration of 14 stained glass windows
and pieces. The sum of money foreseen for the works was 129.030.000
DIN.
September - A committee of the UNESCO visited Subotica and the synagogue
as well as the exhibition which was presented by the IBPCM about the
restoration work.
September 11 - Samuel D. Gruber, the director of the Jewish Heritage
Council of the World Monuments Fund in New York, visited the synagogue.
November 6 - The IBPCM of Subotica submitted a demand to the Community
of Self-managing Organization of Culture of Vojvodina and the Committee
for the Protection of Cultural Monuments in Novi Sad for the financial
means to continue the tinning of the roof and the reclamation of the
exterior covering of the synagogue. Total: 6.600.055.830 DIN (264.225
DEM). The claim was made by Gabor Demeter.
1990
January 3 -17 - An exhibition on ”The history of the synagogue
in Subotica and its restoration” was held in Hódmezovásárhely
in Hungary.
October 11 - The IBPCM submitted a claim for financing to continue
the tinning of the roof and the reclamation of the exterior covering
with the reconstruction of the ornamental items. Total: 3.016.898
DIN (430.985,43 DEM). The claim was written up by Gabor Demeter.
October 31 - The IBPCM sent a letter to the Cultural Foundation
of the Commune of Subotica stating that 1.000.000 DIN was granted
to the Bureau for the reconstruction and restoration of the external
covering of the synagogue. In the first quarter of the year talks
started with the Zsolnay factory in Pécs about the production of ceramics
for the synagogue. However, the work could not be started until the
contract was signed with the factory and the financing was only enough
for part of items needed. On October 15, 1990, a claim was submitted
for financing to continue the work.
December 3 - The Government of the Republic of Serbia declared the
synagogue as a cultural monument of outstanding significance.
December 8 - The IBPCM asked the Foundation of Culture in Novi Sad
for 1.290.000 DIN to work up a plan for the restoration and revitalization
of the synagogue, so that it could apply for the UNESCO Art-nouveau
architecture program. The idea was so that the synagogue could be
put on the list of the world heritage within the framework of the
”project on the protection and restoration of the world's art
nouveau through the Yugoslav architectural heritage”.
1991
January 15 - The Provincial Bureau for the Protection of Cultural
Monuments in Novi Sad wrote to the IBPCM ordering that a restoration
plan be drawn up and sent to the German and Norwegian committees of
UNESCO within framework of the ”project of protection and restoration
of the world's art-nouveau/jugendstil architectural heritage”.
January 23 - The specification of the elements made of burnt ceramics
for the south-eastern and north-western facade no. 6-3/11 of the synagogue
was carried out.
January 19 - Traces of curtains burnt by electric heaters were found
inside the synagogue.
February - The Bureau submitted a claim to the Commune requesting
that the National theater move out from the building because the synagogue
was being devastated without a good reason.
April - The IBPCM published the terms for carrying out the restoration
and reconstruction of the exterior of the building. Project coordinator
was Gabor Demeter.
June - July - The Bureau recorded a video cassette about the condition
of the building and presented it to the Commune.
September 20 - The IBPCM sent a letter to authorized institutions
stating that the synagogue was being used in an unprecedented way
and was being damaged by the National theater. An expert council of
the IBPCM said the National theater should move out of the synagogue.
1992
Jozsef Kasza, the mayor of Subotica met Ester Votaw, one of the
descendants of the family of Dezso Jakab's wife, Irena.
January 28 - The full amount of money was paid to the Zsolnay Porcelain
factory in Hungary for the delivered ceramic facade units.
February 18 - The IBPCM addressed a letter to the Executive committee
of the Commune of Subotica requesting that it order the National theater
out of the synagogue and also requesting that the synagogue be turned
over to the Bureau in order to protect it.
May 28 - The Executive Committee of the Commune of Subotica proposed
a solution regulating activities of the National theater while the
reconstruction of the theater's building in Subotica was taking place.
According to this plan, it was necessary to start the decentralization
of the Theater, that is, to provide conditions for various stage performances.
Among other things, the 'Jadran' cinema would be used for 'classical'
performances, and the Foundry would be used for the experimental theater.
The buildings of the Theater and the synagogue would be used until
work started on further reconstruction and restoration of both buildings.
August 12 - The IBPCM wrote to the Executive committee of the National
theater stating that restoration work on the synagogue would begin
October 1, so the National theater was asked to move out.
October 12 - A contract was awarded to the painter Istvan Anus to
carry out preliminary work on the restoration of the painted decoration
on the gallery of the synagogue. The agreed value of the works was
650.000 DIN.
October 27 - Anus was awarded a contract to restore the painted
decoration on the gallery of the synagogue. The agreed value of the
works was 1.155.000 DIN.
November 13 - The transfer of the synagogue was made between the
National theater and the IBPCM. Damage was noted in the building during
the transfer, and the National theater was asked to remove the garbage
from the synagogue at its own expense.
1993
February 18 - Antun Rudinski, acting director of the IBPCM, informed
the mayor that the restoration of the central chandelier of the synagogue
was in its final phase. At the same time he stated that a further
7.500 DEM was needed for the restoration of the chandelier, plus another
795.815 DEM for restoration work on the interior of the building,
and 1.300.667 DEM for restoration work on the exterior -- a total
of approximately 2.200.000 DEM.
March 9 - Rudinski informed the representative of the South-Backa
county that the available funds at the end of 1992 were enough only
for the restoration of the central chandelier of the synagogue and
for the preparation of the painting work on the gallery. There were
no financial means for anything else.
March 10 - The IBPCM completed the ”Plan for the Restoration
and Revitalizing of the Synagogue in Subotica”.
The mayor of Subotica Jozsef Kasza visited the United States. There
he met Eszter Votaw and Samuel Gruber. After these meetings the search
for international aid began for the restoration of the synagogue.
April 22 - The plan for restoration work for 1993 was present to
the Executive committee of the Assembly of the Commune: the total
replacement of the electrical installations, the renewal of the lighting
apparatus, painting and decorating, totaling 48.720 DEM.
August 30 - Experts estimated that 600,000-700.000 DEM were necessary
to repair the synagogue organ.
October 1 - Istvan Anus was awarded a contract to paint the altar
of the synagogue. The cost of the preliminary invoice of the works
was 1.115,40 DEM.
October 8 - The Sombor branch office of the Bureau for the financial
supervision of the Republic of Serbia audited the financial records
for work on the synagogue from 1989 to 1993. Its report stated that
it could be concluded that the IBPCM received 277.830 DEM at the black
market exchange rate in effect when the money was received, and paid
out 110.947 DEM for work completed. Most of the financing arrived
in 1990, a year in which no work was carried out. The first significant
payments began in 1991, and because of the inflation over the period
when work was halted, the money receive lost its value.
October 14 - Peter Balint was awarded a contract to carry out temporary
measures to protect the large circular stained glass window above
the main entrance of the synagogue. The cost of the preliminary invoice
of the works was 3.894.000 DIN, or 354 DEM.
October 14 - Peter Balint was awarded a contract for inspecting
the floors of the synagogue. The cost of the preliminary invoice was
802 DEM.
December 15 - The IBPCM prepared the preliminary measurements and
the preliminary invoices for small urgent protective interventions
for the synagogue in Subotica.
1994
April 19 - The IBPCM announced terms for the repair of the fence
around the building of the synagogue.
May - The public Bureau for Urbanism, Construction and Planning
of the Commune of Subotica announced the Urbanistic-technical terms
for organizing the yard of the synagogue.
May 6 - The Serbian Ministry of Culture granted 70.000 DIN for the
most urgent works on the synagogue.
May 9 - The Executive Committee of the Assembly of the Commune of
Subotica, as the customer, and the IBPCM as the contractor, signed
a contract for essential urgent interventions and supervision of technical
protection of the synagogue. The customer was obliged to pay 59.121,40
new DIN and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia would
provide 68.915,40 new DIN.
May 9 - The Private Firm ¨Razvoj - Janic¨ was awarded a contraft
to perform building guild works on the synagogue. The agreed cost
of the works was 123.915,40 DIN.
May 16 - The Serbian Ministry of Culture granted the IBPCM 70.000,00
DIN for the most essential works on the synagogue.
May 16 - July 9 - ”Razvoj - Janic” carried out the following
work: removing the ceramic tiles from the floor, digging and removing
the earth, digging trenches for the sewage system, layering the gravel,
stamping down the earth, concreting the floor tile, building manholes
for the sewage system, disassembling the existing sewage system, installing
the hydro-isolation in layers, transporting the surplus of the earth,
installing thermo-isolation and metal framework and installing the
gutters.
October - The IBPCM drew up plans for the rain drainage system for
the synagogue.
1995
March 22 - The contract no. 101-1/11 was signed between the Executive
committee of the Commune of Subotica as the customer and the IBPCM
to work out a documentation album for the synagogue. The cost of the
preliminary invoice of the contract was 1.000 DIN.
1996
The synagogue was put on the World Monument Fund Watch List of the
World's 100 Most Endangered Cultural Monuments.
April 2 - An expert Committee of the IBPCM inspected the synagogue
in order to assess the damage from a fire on March 31, 1996. The Committee
found three crates containing the ornamental ceramic façade items
produced at the Zsolnay factory in Pécs. Two crates were burnt up,
while the third was open and the items taken out; some of them were
broken.
June 25 - An expert committee of the IBPCM inspected the synagogue
and found that the star of David's had fallen off the top of the main
cupola. Since the peak of the lightning rod was fixed on it, the lightning
rod had also fallen down.
1997
December 23 - Documentation for the property register of the synagogue
was prepared..
1998
May 6 - The ”Integral” Building Firm submitted a demand
for payment for storing the synagogue's pews.
September 22 - IBPCM experts Jagoda Alavantic, a graduate engineer
of architecture, and Violeta Matesic, an architect-technician, prepared
a preliminary invoice for the reclamation, reconstruction, restoration
and revitalization of the synagogue. According to this preliminary
invoice, the total funding needed was 4.091.322,42 DEM.
1999
February 25 - 27 - An international team of experts for prepairing
the report about the state of the synagogue in Subotica with (Andras
Román, Tamas Fejerdy, Klara Deák and Viktorija Aladjic) visited the
synagogue to prepare a report on its condition. Their work was financed
by the Samuel Kress Foundation, at the request of the World Monuments
Fund.
2000
The synagogue was again put on the World Monuments Fund Watch List
of the World's 100 Most Endangered Cultural Monuments.
December 7 - The new Jewish Heritage Grant program of the World
Monuments Fund (WMF), sponsored by the Ronald S. Lauder foundation,
granted $60.000 for the repair of the most damaged parts of the roof.
