The Coral Temple (Templul Coral) is a historic synagogue in central Brăila, built in 1863 for the city’s Jewish community. Also known as the New Temple (Templul Nou), it is the surviving synagogue of a community that once maintained several places of worship across the city.
Jewish settlement in Brăila dates back to the Ottoman period, but the community expanded considerably during the nineteenth century as the city developed into a major trading port. Its first synagogue, known as Frankische Schul, was built between 1820 and 1825 on what was then called Jewish Street. As the congregation grew, a larger temple was constructed on the same site in 1863, incorporating land previously used by the old synagogue, a building for preparing unleavened bread, and the residence of Rabbi Iankel Margulies.
The new synagogue was built of brick on stone foundations, with a relatively simple exterior incorporating Neo-Gothic details. Its tall arched windows feature the Star of David, while an octagonal roof turret above the central hall introduces an architectural element resembling the domes of Orthodox churches. The entrance is reached through the courtyard, with the main doorway sheltered by a small canopy.
Inside, the rectangular prayer hall has wooden galleries extending along three sides, supported by slender columns. Men traditionally worshipped on the ground floor, while women occupied the upper galleries. The interior retains historic woodwork and furnishings, together with religious inscriptions, donated objects, and decorations incorporating Jewish symbols.
Brăila’s Jewish population declined considerably during the twentieth century, and the city’s other historic synagogues gradually disappeared or ceased to function. The Coral Temple survived as the community’s place of worship and is still used for Jewish holidays, commemorations, and cultural gatherings. The building also hosts educational visits introducing students and other groups to the history and religious customs of Brăila’s Jewish community.
