When the Neolog movement spread throughout Hungary and related territories in the 2nd half of the 19th century, the Jewish community of Žilina adopted the new ideas and left the old ways behind. Only a small number of jews stayed faithful to Orthodox judaism. They broke away and formed their own community.
Then came the Shoah, the creation of Israel, and communism. Three factors that resulted in Žilina losing almost all of their Jewish population. Today, the fancy Neolog synagogue with its very interesting architecture has become an art center.
The orthodox synagogue and (defunct) Mikvah is a small and modest, though from the outside a very heimish building in a small street slightly outside the town center. And most importantly, it still functions as a Shil (though I really don’t know when was the last time an actual Minyan assembled here).
Sadly, we were unable to take a look inside.
