As assessments continue, reports keep coming in about Jewish heritage damaged in the twin earthquakes that struck northern Italy at the end of May.
The latest alert is over the building housing a 15th century synagogue in the town of Sermide.
Emanuele Colorni, the president of the Jewish community in Mantova, issued a statement after he examined the site with Sermide’s mayor. He said there is a risk that the entire building may have to be razed. “The earthquake worsened the already poor condition of the walls,” he said. He noted, however, that the synagogue was not furnished — in fact, its ornate 16th-century Ark (brought to Sermide from Mantova in the 17th century) and other furnishings were packed up and taken to Jerusalem in 1956, along with the furnishings of several other Italian synagogues, and are now displayed in the Museum of Italian Jewish Art in Jerusalem.
Colorni added:
“The walls on the second floor that surround the old prayer hall are thin and will not bear the weight of the dilapidated roof for much more time. The prayer hall is now reduced to a large room with no inner ceiling and only three arches preserved from the original architecture; this area is under a roof that might collapse at any moment. For security reasons, the houses facing and adjacent to the synagogue have been evacuated, and the local authorities must very soon decide the fate of the building housing the old and glorious synagogue and glorious.”
See more about Jewish heritage damaged in the quakes HERE
The Union of Italian Jewish Communities has set up accounts where donations can be made.