Eliezer Zusman of Brody

18th Century

Eliezer Zusman of Brody (alternatively, Elieser Sussman) was a Jewish painter credited with introducing the traditional East European type of synagogue decoration to southern Germany in the early eighteenth century. His signature style is found in several synagogues in Bavaria. Zusman may have been invited to southern Germany as a professional craftsman or might have gone there seeking a better life and refuge from instability in Poland. He painted his first synagogue, Bechhofen, in 1732. 

Entries in the Posen Library by This Creator

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Synagogue (Bechhofen, Germany)

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The Bechhofen Synagogue (built in 1685) is believed to have been the largest wooden synagogue in Germany. The interior of the synagogue was painted with lavish decorations in 1732 and 1733, in typical…

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Horb Synagogue (Horb am Main, Germany)

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The interior of the wooden Horb synagogue (completed in 1735) is richly decorated in typical East European style, which artist Eliezer Zusman, originally from Brody, introduced to southern Germany…

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Private Synagogue (Unterlimpurg, Germany)

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This synagogue structure contains stunning samples of wood painting and folk motifs (including verses, images of Jerusalem, animals, and flowers). The panels were decorated by Eliezer Zusman, an…