July 2013 Challenge: 31 Views of Where I Live

In May 2013, a miniature replica of the Great Synagogue of Warsaw was installed on the site of the original one, almost 70 years to the day after the Nazis levelled it.
The project is a 1:10 scale plywood rendition of the 19th century Tlomackie square synagogue, which used to be one of the world's largest.

Blue Skyscraper, Blue Tower - called also sometimes Silver Tower, which is seen in bg, marks the place where synagogue stood before 2nd World War.
It was called the Great Synagogue and was the biggest and the most impressive Jewish temple in Warsaw, constructed between 1872 and 1878.

In 1940 the synagogue was closed, just like other Jewish temples in Warsaw. After liquidation of the Warsaw ghetto, Nazis decided to destroy the temple, what was supposed to be a symbol of final extermination of Jews in Warsaw. The building was blown up on May 16th, 1943.
After the war, there were plans of placing a skyscraper here. But the construction was not started until 1970s. A steel structure was built and covered with a golden elevation. But soon all the works were stopped for many years. People used to say then, that it had been a rabbis' curse for putting a skyscraper in the place of former synagogue, at the holy place. It was partly truth, as in fact Jewish organisations were protesting against the idea. Finally, they agreed and the construction was finished in 1991. The facade's colour was changed into silver, which reflects the colour of sky.