Georgiy Schleifer

Born in Kiev to a family of German origin, Georgiy Schleifer moved in 1874 to St. Petersburg after graduating from gymnasium; in Petersburg, he studied at the city’s Institute of Civil Engineers. He returned in Kiev in 1882; in the same year he won a competition to construct the Kiev Stock Exchange building. Two years later, he was elected to the city council and appointed chief architect of the city. In 1897, Schleifer drew up plans for the Choral Synagogue in Kiev, which was completed the following year, and represents the only Jewish-related work of Schleifer in the city.