An appeal has been issued to find funding to repair the inner cupola of the grand synagogue in Florence.
Architect Renzo Funaro, head of the Opera del Tempio di Firenze — the body that oversees the repair, maintenance, and restoration of the synagogue and some other Jewish heritage sites in Tuscany — said that €50,000 was needed for urgent repair work on the cupola, with €20,000 needed by December 20 — the close of Hanukkah — in order to begin work.
He told the newspaper Corriere Fiorentino that a close inspection, using a drone, had been made of the inner cupola.
In October, at the 13th-century Basilica of Santa Croce, a Spanish tourist was killed by a piece of stone pedestal that detached and fell 30 meters to hit him.
The synagogue inspection was undertaken as a precaution — and Funaro emphasized that no such danger presented itself at the synagogue.
However, the examination revealed that there was a possibility that pieces of wood and other material could detach from the inner cupola.
The synagogue is a monumental, Moorish style building, inaugurated in 1882. It has a lavishly decorated interior, and its dome is the second largest in Florence, after that of the Duomo (Cathedral).
Funaro said that the synagogue is open as usual for services and for tourists, and that once work commenced it should take 10 days, and only the part of the synagogue directly affected will be closed off.
The Jewish community has contacted various foundations for financial help, but also on its web site published the relevant bank account number, and contacts, in case individuals want to contribute:
IBAN: IT57 X061 6002 8171 0000 0001 027
Via Farini 4, 50121 Firenze – Tel. 055.245252; Fax +39.055 241811
Email: operatempioebraico@gmail.com