The first synagogue in Rawicz was located in a private building owned by Leiser Joseph. The Jewish Community Council repurchased the building in 1747 and construction of the new synagogue began in 1783. In 1889, at a cost of 80,000 marks, another building was erected, called the "Great Synagogue", modelled after the synagogue in Wrocław (A. Heppner, I. Herzberg, Aus Vergangenheit und Gegenwart der Juden und der jüdischen Gemeinden in den Posener Landen, Koźmin–Bydgoszcz 1909, p. 891; L. Koczy, Dzieje miasta Rawicza 1639–1914, Poznań 1938, p. 312).
In 1923, following the dissolution of the Jewish Community Council, the synagogue was taken over by the local authorities. In 1938, despite protests from Jewish communities, it was converted into a Catholic garrison church. By the order of the German authorities, the building was demolished in 1941. In 2008, a car park was built on the site of the demolished synagogue. Due to the discovery of the foundations of the former synagogue, their outline has been marked with darker coloured paving stones. In 2019, By the decision of the Rawicz Municipal Council, the square on which the synagogue stood was renamed: Rawicz Synagogue Square (Plac Rawickiej Synagogi) (http://poznan.jewish.org.pl/index.php/Synagogi-pozn.wielkop./Plac-Rawickiej-Synagogi.html, access: 15 March 2021).
The postcard with a view of the Rawicz synagogue was issued around 1902. The obverse side shows the western façade of the temple. In the foreground, there is a low brick fence with metal wrought-iron spans. The area around the building resembles a small park, with lawns and newly planted trees. The building is covered by a tall dome, topped with the Star of David. Four turrets are placed in the corners. Two pairs of doors lead into the synagogue, set in a portal decorated with three rosettes.
At the top of the card, there is the inscription "Synagoga" (Synagogue) and at the bottom edge, the publishing address: Bracia Richter, Drezno" (Richter Brothers, Dresden). On the reverse side, at the top edge, there is the caption: "Karta pocztowa" (Postcard). The date stamp on the postmark indicates that the postcard was sent from Rawicz on 9 August 1902 between 6.00 and 7.00 am. The delivery stamp confirms that the consignment arrives in Złotów on the same day, between 2:00 and 3:00 pm. The addressee was Miss P. Włoszczyńska.
The postcard was purchased for the Leszno District Museum's collection in 2000 from Mieczysław Janik from Mosina, owner of the "Filokartysta" mail order antique shop.
Dariusz Czwojdrak
