Tikkun Chatzot – semiotics of synagogues on the example of the synagogue in Siemiatycze

Mateusz Michalski

doi:10.37190/arc210101

Abstract

The article aims to describe the semiotic aspect of synagogue architecture in the context of liturgical texts and show the direct relationship between synagogues’ dimensions and the individual verses of prayers. The work’s subject was a synagogue in Siemiatycze, built at the end of the 18th century. The example of prayer was Tikkun Chatzot, the midnight service that emerged under the influence of Kabbalistic movements in Safed. Under the influence of 17th and 18th-century mystical movements, it became part of the synagogue liturgy in Europe. The article presents a metrological analysis of the synagogue’s dimensions in Siemiatycze based on in situ research and the related Tikkun Chatzot prayer text’s gematric analysis. Gematria is a special kind of mysticism of the letters and is rooted in a particular way in the Hebrew language. It consists of converting the letters of words into numbers. This method assumes that letters in a word are understood as graphic signs of numbers. During the research, methods of logical argumentation, historical and analytical, and quantitative and statistical, were used. During the research, it was possible to indicate the relationship between the Tikkun Chatzot prayer fragments and the synagogue’s dimensions in Siemiatycze. It applies to external and internal dimensions. We find expressions relating to exile and nostalgia for the temple and Jerusalem more often in the external dimensions, whereas in interior dimensions we encounter expressions praising God. At the same time, it was indicated that this relationship represents the linguistically binary character of the synagogue architecture rooted in the exterior–interior opposition.

Keywords:
article
synagogue
tikkun-chatzot
siemiatycze
gematria

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2021

1(65)

DOI: 10.37190/arc210101

Mateusz Michalski*

Tikkun Chatzot – semiotics of synagogues on the example

of the synagogue in Siemiatycze

Introduction

One of the manifestations of Judaism’s architecture is

the aspect of gematria [1]. This peculiar feature of syna-

gogues clearly shows that synagogue architecture is deep-

ly rooted in Judaism. In addition to the prominent and

visible features such as the decor, the layout of the plan

emphasizing the ritual’s character, attention should also

be paid to the crucial aspect of the word, rooted in gemat-

rical activities in the synagogue architecture

. To present

the described phenomenon in more detail, the author used

the example of a synagogue in Siemiatycze.

The state and aim of research

-

tory of the Siemiatycze synagogue in 1911. In his arti-

cle: Siemiatycka synagoga i przekazy o niej [Siemiatycze

synagogue and stories about it] [2], Avierbuch provided

information about the building’s history, based more on

legends and stories than on architecture or documents

      

that the synagogue was built in 1755, when Princess



      



construction of an alley through the Jewish cemetery.



     



The aspect of gematria in the architecture of Judaism is dealt with

in detail in the author’s doctoral thesis written under the supervision of





and Technology. A monograph was also issued on its basis [1].

           

seems that this is the most probable hypothesis, also in-

cluded in the Katalog zabytków sztuki w Polsce [Cata-

logue of art monuments in Poland] [5, p. 71], in which the

authors specify the date of the synagogue construction

for the years 1797–1801. The design execution time by



     -



         

show also that the Jews resisted long before accepting

the town heiress’s proposition to erect a synagogue for

the kehillah.

As a matter of fact, apart from short studies, the syn-

agogue in Siemiatycze did not receive a monograph and



been any complete research either, and the wall painting

was hidden under another lime layer.

Of course, the object is mentioned by Eleonora Berg-

      Zachowane synago-

gi i domy modlitwy w Polsce: katalog [Preserved syn-

        

  

        

-



The most information about the synagogue can be found

in the city’s monograph and Katalog zabytków sztuki

w Polsce [5].

The article aims to describe the semiotic aspect of the sy-

nagogue architecture in Siemiatycze in the Tikkun Chatz

prayer context. So far, no one has attempted to demon-

strate a direct relationship between the building’s dimen-

sions and the individual verses of the above mentioned

prayer while considering the history of the building and

its original architectural form.

 

Historical background

The synagogue is situated in the south-western part of

      











the commune was not very large and dependent on the



began to compete in crafts with the local population. Ac-

cording to the agreement of the Siemiatycze kehillah with



[…]

it is appropriate to give overburned spirit into booz

to the Siemiatycze town hall



        



it as follows: […] individually, we have the privilege of

Her Majesty, Our Lady of the Voivode of Vilnius Kopciów-

na Sapieżyna, of the hetman, Grand Duchy of Lithuania,

our lady and benefactor, that we are allowed to multiply

all kinds of benets, trade goods and whatever we under-

stand for our benet for our money, we are allowed to

multiply all this





This privilege freed Jews from any restrictions in trade

-



Despite the repeated punishments and orders imposed on

the Jewish population not to engage in unfair competition,

nothing changed in this regard.



the Siemiatycze kehillah slowed down due to the cholera

epidemic in 1710–1711. The people who emigrated from

the city with the pestilential air’s advent began to return

in March 1711.

The 18

century saw a period of dynamic development

of the city. The number of inhabitants, including Jews, in-



town’s turnover also increased. Bringing over missionaries

in the 1720s resulted in a return to the foundation charter





the Siemiatycze kehillah



Thursday, and the change was to be propagated by Jews



Sunday, but it was forbidden to do it in public, i.e. in the

-

agogue). This document shows that at that time, there was



[…] ratione dawania do przepalonej okowity gorzałki na ratusz

sie mia tyckiej pewnej [original spelling in old Polish].



[…] z osobna mamy przywilej Jaśnie Wielmożnej Jej Mci Pani

wo jewodziny wileńskiej Kopciówny Sapieżynej, hetmanowej, Wielkiego

Księs twa Litewskiego, pani i dobrodziejki naszej, że nam wolno wsze

lakie pożytki przymnażać, towarami handlować i cokolwiek byśmy ro

zu mieli do pożytku naszego za pieniądze nasze pomnażać wolno nam to

wszystko jest [original spelling in old Polish].

its location and appearance. It can be said with high prob-







the city burned down. At that time, the reconstruction of

        

  castrum Romanum, with cardo and decumanus



their intersection. The synagogue was probably built after

        -

     



1770s. This street ran from the palace gate through the

-

mine whether this was the condition for building the syna-







higher than the old orthodox church and almost as high

          

-



       

Siemiatycze [2, p. 40].

-

         

during the uprising despite its proximity to the palace.

         

        

War I without any damage. In the interwar period, Jews

owned four houses of prayer in Siemiatycze.

In 1942, the Germans established a ghetto in Siemi-

atycze, and the synagogue was used as a warehouse for

      

place in 1944 after the front had passed. The wooden

Aron

ha-Kodesh were destroyed. In the post-war period, the

synagogue was used as warehouses and shops. At the be-

-

verted into a community centre.

It houses a performance hall, and an exhibition show-

ing the history and culture of Siemiatycze was organized

at the women’s gallery.

Analysis of the synagogue architecture

The historical and urban study from 1957 stated: Syna-

gogue […] Oriented. Brick. Plastered. Painted white. On

a rectangular plan similar to a square. Three-aisle. Two-

story. Embanked. Main entrance from the west, leading to

the hallway, on both sides of which there are two similar

rooms. The nave is wide, separated by two rows of square

pillars, connected by full arches. Half-height side aisles

are separated by galleries, supported from the west in the

nave on two massive Doric stylized columns. There is one

large room above the hall and western rooms, connected

with galleries into one whole. Flat ceilings. The rest of the

original decoration on the eastern wall with animal and

oral motifs. The rest of the polychrome decoration is new.

The façade without divisions, topped with a full entabla-

Tikkun Chatzot – semiotics of synagogues on the example of the synagogue in Siemiatycze 5















Il. 2. Synagoga w Siemiatyczach.







early 20

century









ture. The eastern wall is pilastered and has pseudoportals

on the aisles’ axes. High, hipped roof, covered with shin-

gles, sheet metal. The condition of the building is terrible



Detailed information about the building’s original ap -

pear ance can be found in the report from the 1959 inspec-

-

cording to this documentation, the original outer wall of





cornice and at the jambs, including the window sills.

In the eastern façade, there have initially been blind



-

ings served as windows. The niches in the outer axes on

-

dows later, probably along with interior design change.

The elevation played the front façade’s role and was thus







     

has initially been situated above the main entrance on the

     

   



The northern and southern elevations were initially de-







window openings in the northern elevation before World

War II [9, p. 4].

The men’s hall was divided by rows of pillars on

which the gallery for women was based. The pillars were

connected with semicircular arcades that were initially

open. The last preserved interior of the synagogue can be

read from photos from the beginning of the 20

century

mechitza

made of vertical bars, the lower part of which is a balus-

trade in the form of a panel. The western gallery was sup-

ported in the centre by two stylized Doric columns, with

two round pillars above them. In the columns’ axis, the

pillars supporting the gallery were octagonal at the bottom



There was a vast and decorative three-story Aron ha-

Kodesh, on the eastern wall, to which stairs led by a bal-



on both sides, with niches closed with a segmental arch.

In the upper part of the wall, there were two windows. The

synagogue had a rich painting decoration, which consist-

ed of animal and plant motifs, plant, meanders, geometric

and frame arrangements. On the eastern wall, there are

-

tunately, during the post-war renovation, they were cov-

ered with layers of paint. The decoration probably dates



  

       

entire composition passed or joined the wall due to the

facets or very densely placed consoles.

 

-

went a renovation, which partially blurred its style fea-

-

tions, windows were made in place of the door openings,

the external stairs leading to the women’s gallery were not

reconstructed.

Existing state



Pilasters in giant order introduced the order of the façade.

         

three-axis central part. Basically, the façade was restored

to its condition from the beginning of the 20

century.

The west elevation has seven axes and was topped with

-









rectangular window openings. In the second axis from the

 



Inside, the ceilings were replaced with reinforced con-

crete. Apart from the general layout of the interior, nothing



     

painted with oil paint. Inside, the ceilings were replaced

with reinforced concrete. Apart from the general layout of

the interior, nothing is left of the original synagogue. The



frames, which were painted with oil paint. The eastern

wall was covered with a stage. All traces of the niche for

scrolls disappeared, and wooden panelling was used on

the pillars and walls. The damaged bima was also not re-





open to the room, there is a permanent exhibition and the

director’s rooms. Both the interior and the exterior do not

resemble the original purpose of the building.

At the end of 2019, a major overhaul of the building

began, including the reconstruction of the existing inter-



in the hall and vestibule, lowering the door thresholds, re-

novation of internal doors with the restoration of the orig-

inal colours, renovation of walls and pillars.

Metrological analysis

The synagogue in Siemiatycze was planned entirely

using the new Warsaw measure. It means that it could not





To conduct a metrological analysis, in situ measure-

ments were made. These measurements were compiled and

 -

tion

being in the Provincial Heritage Monuments Protec-

in situ height

dimension of the men’s hall’s interior was compared with

the inventory dimension from the 1950s. It was assumed

that the inventory shows the interior’s proper height,

based on the ceiling beam nests and remnants of decora-

tions visible in the 1950s.

The measurements show that the building was erected



-



eaves. The hall’s interior is arranged on a rectangle meas-

-









Based on the values obtained during the metrological

analysis, research was conducted to obtain a linguistic

representation for the obtained numerical values.

















Tikkun Chatzot – semiotics of synagogues on the example of the synagogue in Siemiatycze 7

that the letter qof -

ter of the alphabet tav 

kafmemnunpetsadi

of 20, 40, 50, 80, 90, respectively.

   mispar siduri   

method. It is based on assigning 22 letters of the alphabet



The last, third method that has not been mentioned

mispar katan). This meth-

od assumes – similarly to the mispar hechrachi method



alphabet – from alephtet

1 to 9. The next 9 letters – from yodtsade

have a value from 1 to 9. The remaining four letters – from

qoftav

method, numerical values of the letters from the mispar

hechrachi method all zeros are reduced.

When choosing a prayer for analysis, attention should

be paid to the texts that have gained importance in the

liturgy since the 17

      







were innovative and did not change the liturgy’s general

arrangement or prayers’ texts. Instead, they focused on in-

troducing meditation, hymns, chants, and kavanah. There-

fore, the relations between the synagogue’s dimensions in

Shema Yisrael, Amidah,

Lekhah Dodi, Kabbalat Shabbat, Yigdal, Shir Hakavod)

were analyzed. However, in this paper, it was decided to

discuss the Tikkun Chatzot-

-

listic movements in Safed. During this service, in tears,

laments were said about the destruction of Jerusalem and







interior of the synagogue, usually sitting, each Jew indi-

vidually recited lamentation over the destruction of the

temple. Tikkun Chatzot is divided into two parts: Tikkun

Rachel and Tikkun Leah, from the names of the two wives

of Patriarch Jacob. Tikkun Rachel is said while sitting low

            





mourning. Tikkun Leah is said while sitting in a chair, not



on the number value of dimensions and their conversion



An analysis of verses related to the dimensions of the

synagogue in Siemiatycze is described below

That Your way should be known on earth, Your salva-

tion among all nations

             





86

The text of the prayer based on [14].

The Tikkun Leah

Gematrical analysis

Gematria is a particular type of letter mysticism that

consists of transforming the letters of words into numbers.

This method assumes that letters in a word are understood

as graphic signs of numbers. This interesting relationship



the cosmos is the code of the name of God

and the Torah

is not only a cognitive element but a phenomenon of cre-

ative power, the esoteric meaning has its culmination in



Research studies in this part of the article are based on

the dependence in which a particular numerical value ob-

tained from metrological analysis should have a semantic

meaning. It cannot be a random string of letters, the sym-

bols of individual digits being searched for, giving the sum

of the value sought. It must have a meaning in addition to

the phonetic value. This method is complicated, mostly as



of semantically and phonetically correct terms. One word,



the constant value assigned to a given gematrical method.

The analysis was carried out following several gematria



the sotes-

ferent form in the middle and at the end of a word, individual

sounds’ numerical values have been standardized with the

base form in all gematria methods. It should be emphasized

         



mispar hechrachi), divides

-

ters range from 1 – alephtet

letters correspond to the values from 10 – yod  

– tsade













Synagogue length along the east–west axis





Synagogue width along the north–south axis





Height to the roof eaves

744.00 cm

25 feet

Men’s hall interior length along the east–west axis

1800.00 cm



Men’s hall interior width along north–south axis

1741.00 cm



Men’s hall interior height at the highest point



27 feet

                        

 







117

Our heritage has been turned over to strangers, our

houses to aliens





324



       

the analyzed objects is as follows:

Synagogue length (86):

That Your way should be known on earth, Your salvation

among all nations.

Synagogue width (132):

Our sanctuary and our glory, wherein our forefathers

praised You is burnt with re, and all our coveted places

have become a waste!

Synagogue high (300):

How shall we sing the song of the Lord on foreign soil?

(300):

The crown of our head has fallen, woe to us, for we have

sinned.

(300):

O Lord, You shall open my lips, and my mouth will recite

Your praise!

Men’s hall length (121):

For [but] a short time Your holy people inherited; our

adversaries trampled Your sanctuary.

(121):

Hallelujah, I shall thank the Lord with all my heart with

the counsel of the upright and [in] the congregation.

(121):

The strength of His works He related to His people, to

give them the inheritance of the nations.

Men’s hall width (117):

God will be gracious to us and bless us; He will cause

His countenance to shine with us forever.

(117):

The works of His hands are truth and justice; all His

commandments are faithful.

Men’s hall high (324):

Our heritage has been turned over to strangers, our

houses to aliens.

The Tikkun Rachel

Our sanctuary and our glory, wherein our forefathers

praised You is burnt with re, and all our coveted places

have become a waste!









132

How shall we sing the song of the Lord on foreign soil?





300



The crown of our head has fallen, woe to us, for we

have sinned!





300



O Lord, You shall open my lips, and my mouth will re-

cite Your praise!





300



For [but] a short time Your holy people inherited; our

adversaries trampled Your sanctuary







121

Hallelujah, I shall thank the Lord with all my heart with

the counsel of the upright and [in] the congregation







121

The strength of His works He related to His people, to

give them the inheritance of the nations







121

God will be gracious to us and bless us; He will cause

His countenance to shine with us forever









117

The works of His hands are truth and justice; all His

commandments are faithful



The Tikkun Rachel 

The Tikkun Rachel 

The Tikkun Rachel 

The Tikkun Leah fragment from: Ps 51,17.

The Tikkun Rachel 

The Tikkun Leah fragment from: Ps 111,1.

The Tikkun Leah



The Tikkun Leah

The Tikkun Leah fragment from: Ps 111,7.

 י ֵא ר י ש ָ נ ת ֶא ר י ש ה ָוה ְי ל ַע ת ַמ ְד ַא ׃ר ָכ ֵנ

ה ָל ְפ ָ נ ת ֶר ֶט ֲ ע  נ ש אֹ ר יא אָנ נ ָל י כ ׃נא ָטָח

                          

                         

                               

׃םִי ת ַל ֲח ַנ ם ֶה ָל ת ֵת ָל   ַע ְל ד י ִ ִה ו י ָש ֲ ע ַמ ַח כ

                                

                           

                      

                               

Tikkun Chatzot – semiotics of synagogues on the example of the synagogue in Siemiatycze 9

Concerning the analyzed fragments and their location

within the synagogue, we can draw the following conclu-



phrases referring to exile and nostalgia for the temple and

Jerusalem. Most often, terms praising God refer to interi-

or dimensions. Based on the analyzed fragments, it can be

concluded that the synagogue presents the complex history

of the people of Israel, pointing to the destruction of the

temple and the scattering of Jews resulting from it. Despite

this tragedy, the community remains faithful, glorifying

God and awaiting His blessing. It proves that the syna-

gogue is treated specially as an object distinguished by its

binary character. On the one hand, there is a sacred, liturgi-

cal-oriented interior that intentionally praises God, remem-

bers His attributes, and remembers temples. On the other

hand, the exterior reminds us that the Jew is a wanderer, has

lost his temple and homeland, and is now in a foreign land.

Conclusion

The synagogue in Siemiatycze is not the only building

showing gematrical connections with liturgical texts. Sim-

ilar relationships can be found, for example, in the syna-



Tikkun Chatzot are also divided into those corresponding

Tikkun Chat-

zot and the dimensions of the synagogue in Siemiatycze

do not seem to be accidental. One can try to determine



synagogue’s dimensions. The chance of hitting six numer-

ical values that correspond to six passages of this prayer



Translated by

Mateusz Michalski

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[accessed: 15.11.2015].

Abstract

Tikkun Chatzot

– semiotics of synagogues on the example of a synagogue in Siemiatycze

The article aims to describe the semiotic aspect of synagogue architecture in the context of liturgical texts and show the direct relationship between



century.

The example of prayer was Tikkun Chatzot



and 18

-century mystical movements, it became part of the synagogue liturgy in Europe.

The article presents a metrological analysis of the synagogue’s dimensions in Siemiatycze based on in situ research and the related Tikkun Chatzot

-

sists of converting the letters of words into numbers. This method assumes that letters in a word are understood as graphic signs of numbers. During



During the research, it was possible to indicate the relationship between the Tikkun Chatzot prayer fragments and the synagogue’s dimensions



often in the external dimensions, whereas in interior dimensions we encounter expressions praising God. At the same time, it was indicated that this

relationship represents the linguistically binary character of the synagogue architecture rooted in the exterior–interior opposition.

Key words: synagogue, Tikkun Chatzot, Siemiatycze, gematria

10 

Streszczenie

Tikkun Chacot

– semiotyka synagogi na przykładzie bożnicy w Siemiatyczach





Tikkun Chacot



in situ

Tikkun Chacot





Tikkun Chacot 







Słowa kluczowe: synagoga, Tikkun Chacot