Over the past year, we have posted more than 220 items in our Jewish Heritage Europe news feed. As 2015 comes to an end, we thought we would draw attention to our most-shared posts of the past year….they encompass a wide range of subjects — and geographical locations.
In this post, we list — in backwards chronological order — our most popular items from July through December.
We will list the most popular items from the first half of the year in a second post.
Thanks for your interest and for sharing — some of these posts have been shared hundreds of times!
Ukraine: Toward a Holocaust Museum in Chernivtsi?
Dec. 27, 2015
Experts gathered in Kiev in mid-December for a first meeting to discuss plans to establish a Holocaust museum in the empty and dilapidated ceremonial hall at the vast Jewish cemetery in Chernivtsi (Czernowitz), Ukraine.
Archives: Fascinating finds in National Library of Israel Jewish newspaper archive
December 20, 2015
If you’re interested in the history of synagogue architecture and other historic data regarding Jewish built heritage (and Jewish life in general), a search of the National Library of Israel’s huge — and growing — archive of Jewish newspapers can turn up fascinating gems of information.
Macedonia: Progress at Jewish cemetery in Bitola; will become a memorial park
December 18, 2015
Work is under way at the historic Jewish cemetery in Bitola, Macedonia, to create a memorial park there commemorating the large local Jewish community murdered in the Holocaust.
Poland: “Barbarians” vandalize Sochaczew Jewish cemetery
December 18
Unknown vandals defaced a tomb and Holocaust monuments at the Jewish cemetery in Sochaczew, Poland with anti-semitic graffiti and pro-ISIS slogans
The Great Maharsha Synagogue in Ostroh: Memory and Oblivion. Have we reached the point of no return?
December 17, 2015
Sergey R. Kravtsov describes the history of the ruined 17th century synagogue in Ostroh, Ukraine – and wonders about its future. (A “Have Your Say” article)
Poland: “Small Synagogue” Reopens in Wroclaw
December 13, 2015
The synagogue is a prayer room established in 1945 in a room on an upper floor of the Jewish community complex, which also includes the historic White Stork synagogue.
Romania: Oradea’s Zion Synagogue to be rededicated after renovation
November 24, 2015
Restoration work on the magnificent Zion Neolog synagogue in Oradea, Romania has been completed and the Moorish-style synagogue, a towering landmark on the bank of the Cris River in the city center, will be rededicated wit two ceremonies.
Romania: Film about Jewish cemetery restoration in Alba Iulia
November 24, 2015
The Municipality of Alba Iulia, Romania, has prepared a video about the town’s Jewish heritage sites —synagogue and Jewish cemetery — focusing in particular on the large and historic cemetery the city’s current efforts and future plans for its preservation and restoration.
Wales: Former synagogue gets reconversion grant
November 15, 2015
A historic but derelict former synagogue in Wales has received a grant to covert it into apartments.
Germany: Centuries-old mikveh discovered
November 10, 2015
Archeologists have discovered a mikveh, or ritual bath, dating back to the 16th or 17th century in the town of Schmalkalden in former East Germany.
Glorious surviving — and restored — synagogues to mark the anniversary of Kristallnacht
November 9, 2015
Two years ago, we felt the best way to mark the 75th anniversary of Kristallnacht was to post images of some of the glorious synagogues that still stand in Europe — or have been renovated and refurbished — or have been newly built. You can click here to see that selection of photos. Last year, we continued this tradition – and this year we are doing it again, with more photos.
Jewish cemetery round-up: in 3 countries, 2 rededicated and 2 vandalized
October 21, 2015
In the news this month have been the rededication of two Jewish cemeteries Poland after restoration — but also the desecration of two Jewish cemeteries, on in the Czech Republic and one in Austria.
Latvia: Restoration of wooden “Green Synagogue” in Rezekne progresses
The long-delayed restoration of the wooden “Green Synagogue” in Rezekne, Latvia — built around 1845 and one of the few wooden synagogues still standing in Europe — is progressing
Abandoned Jewish cemeteries — not just in Europe
October 9, 2015
Every so often, we post an item to remind readers that the challenges of dealing with abandoned Jewish cemeteries — while widespread and uphill in post-Holocaust, post-Communist Europe — also exist elsewhere.
Lithuania: Restoration work on historic Pakruojis wooden synagogue is under way
October 4, 2015
Restoration of the historic wooden synagogue in Pakruojis, Lithuania, is going forward with a more than€568,000 grant from the Lichtenstein/Iceland/Norway European Economic Area (EEA).
Poland: Synagogue in Nowy Sacz back in use for worship
September 25, 2015
The synagogue in Nowy Sącz, Poland, which long housed a museum, is being used once again for religious services by Hassidim visiting the tombs of the Tzaddik Chaim Halberstam and his descendants in the Jewish cemetery.
September 24, 2015
There is a move to nominate several large, urban Jewish cemeteries in Europe for inclusion on UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites.
New Year: New (or Renovated) synagogues — Versailles
September 7, 2015
As a sign of beginnings — and new beginnings — a number of synagogues over the decades were either inaugurated when newly built or rededicated after a restoration around (or on) Rosh Hashanah. We highlight a few.
Spain: Transito synagogue museum restored, reopened
September 6, 2015
Monthlong restoration and cleaning work in August has been completed at the 14th century El Transito synagogue in Toledo, which houses the Sephardi Museum.
Slovenia: Maribor synagogue given landmark status
August 30, 2015
The medieval synagogue building Maribor, Slovenia has been granted the status as a cultural landmark of national importance.
France: Volunteers restoring Jewish cemetery in Bayonne
August 23, 2015
For the fifth year in a row, an international group of (mainly) young volunteers is carrying out ongoing restoration and documentation works on the Jewish cemetery in Bayonne, France — founded in the 17th century and one of the oldest in the country.
Lithuania: Kaunas city to help preserve Jewish cemetery
August 7, 2015
The Municipality of Kaunas has signed a cooperation agreement with Maceva, an NGO devoted to documenting and maintaining Jewish cemeteries in Lithuania, regarding the care, maintenance and restoration of the city’s Old Jewish Cemetery in Zaliakalnis.
Poland: Gliwice restoration nearing completion
July 31, 2015
The restoration of the ornate, red-brick Ceremonial Hall at the “New” Jewish cemetery in the southern Polish city Gliwice, begun in mid-2014, is nearing completion, and the Jewish Museum slated to be installed there is due to open in early 2016.
Lithuania: Hope for saving Žiežmariai wooden synagogue?
The City Council of the town of Kaišiadorys has agreed to “adopt” the decaying wooden synagogue in nearby Žiežmariai and help with the restoration of the building.
Poland: New online resource for Warsaw synagogues
July 28, 2015
Virtual Shtetl has listed all the pre-World War II synagogues, prayer houses, and shtibls in Warsaw, thanks to Dr. Eleanora Bergman, the leading expert on Polish synagogue architecture, who has allowed the site to post her research.
Czech Republic: Tribute book to Jiri Fiedler published
July 24, 2015
A tribute book honoring the memory and work of the pioneering Czech Jewish heritage researcher Jiří Fiedler, who along with his wife was brutally murdered in Prague last year, has been published.
Ukraine: work to begin on Space of Synagogues memorial site in L’viv
July 19, 2015
According to city officials in L’viv, on-site work is to begin this week on the “Space of Synagogues” project, which will memorialize destroyed synagogues in the heart of the city’s former downtown Jewish quarter.
Italy: A visit to Jewish heritage in Padova
July 9, 2015
The Jewish community of Padova (Padua) Italy recently opened a permanent exhibition/museum as a new step in a more comprehensive project to develop and promote the city’s rich, centuries-old Jewish heritage as both a resource for local people and an attractive itinerary for tourists and other visitors.
Italy: New interactive Jewish heritage maps
July 9, 2015
Italy’s Foundation for Jewish Cultural Heritage has launched interactive maps of Jewish heritage sites in Italy.
Restoration under way at Lučenec, Slovakia synagogue
Thanks to a €2.3 million EU grant, the long-abandoned Lipot Baumhorn-designed synagogue in Lučenec, Slovakia is (finally) under restoration, fulfilling plans and aspirations formulated years ago.