Yiddishe Presse newspaper announces that the Jewish community in Berlin received a worthy gift from architect Ferdinand Schofer - a drawing of the plan of the old synagogue in Brisk D’Lita.

When the city of Brisk, in 1846, was transformed by the Russian government into a fortified stronghold, Schofer was the chief of the builders who took part in the construction of the fortress and the new city which was placed/moved about 2 km [two kivrot-derekh = ~4 miles] farther.

In the old city the Jews had a glorious ancient building for a synagogue, built in 1385. It was built like a castle in which the Jews found shelter several times when they were in danger of harassment by their enemies. That building was torn down by order of Tzar Nicholas to clear the area for the construction of the fortress.

In order to leave some record of this building, the Tzar instructed the head of the builders, to draw the plan of the building in details with all its features, outside and inside. One such drawing he deposited for safe-keeping in the engineering mangement office supervising the building of the fortress. A second drawing was sent by order of the Tzar to Mr. Shmuel Denis in London, a descendant of the person who built that synagogue 500 years previously. Architect Schofer secured in his hands a third copy. Now, Mr. Schofer has presented this drawing as a gift to the leaders of the Jewish community in Berlin. He attached to this drawing a letter with comments explaining all details of the drawing.

It is of common knowledge that Tzar Nicolai granted to the Jewish community a plot, in the new Brisk, to build for themselves a new synagogue. He also ordered to pay the expenses entailed in the construction, from the government’s treasury.