Many famous synagogues have been preserved in the territory of Ukraine till nowadays. In the course of the recent expeditions to the towns of Podolia, Volyn, and Southern Galicia over a hundred unique structures of the 16^th-19^th centuries have been described. Twenty-nine of them were built before the beginning of the 19^th century.

Stylistically, most of the stone-built synagogues of the 19^th century are similar to the typical buildings of their times. On the contrary, the synagogues of the 16^th-18^th centuries are unique architectural buildings that not only stand out in the typical architecture of that age but also occupy a special place in the town or city they were built in. These synagogues, apart from their direct purpose, were also used for defense of the Jewish population and the town on the whole. Such functional combination formed a peculiar type of the synagogue buildings – fortress synagogues Such buildings can be found only in Poland, Ukraine, and Belarus.

Fortress synagogues were built upon hills like, for instance, the synagogues in Satanov and Gusyatin. High attics with loopholes usually were decorated. Interiors of many synagogues still carry fragments of Aron-Kodahim

Wooden synagogues of the 16^th- beginning of the 19^th centuries can now be seen only in the form of reconstructions For instance, the reconstructed model of the Khodorov synagogue can be found in the Museum of Diaspora in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Most towns within the former Jewish pale have been remodeled intensively, that is why of special value are drawings and architectural designs of old synagogues (their interiors, exteriors, ritual objects, paintings, and details of construction).

Unfortunately, in the territory of Eastern Europe, a very insignificant number of synagogues have been preserved in a good shape. Most of them were destroyed during the German occupation, during the reconstruction of small towns or in the course of anti-religious wars declared by the Soviet officials against religious structures. Old Jewish cemeteries were most often leveled and synagogues ruined, while those miraculously preserved were turned into warehouses, plants or sports halls.

Unfortunately, not many synagogues are now being remodeled both on the outside and inside. Reconstruction of the defense-type synagogue in Zhovkva has been started. This synagogue was built in the 17^th century in Baroque on the order of the Polish king. In 1972, the synagogue in Gusyatin was reconstructed and turned into a local museum.

Research of the materials of the 20^th-century expeditions as well as organization of new expeditions will make it possible to expand our ideas of the material culture of the Jewish people in the territory of Ukraine.