There are not many synagogues in Siberia and the synagogue of Irkutsk is one of them. The foundation of the synagogue was laid on the 10th of May 1878, and the construction was completed in 1879. All construction works were accomplished with the parishioners’ donations. The first building was destroyed by fire in 1882, but the synagogue was restored after that. The second fire damaged the synagogue considerably in 2004. Then the restoration was finished in 2009. The building is a cultural and historical monument being in the custody of state.