We are eagerly awaiting the publication, scheduled for April, of Synagogues in Ukraine: Volhynia, a new book by Drs. Sergey R. Kravtsov and Vladimir Levin of the Center for Jewish Art at Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
The announcement of the book, to be published by the Center and the Zalman Shazar Center for Jewish History, was made in the Center for Jewish Art’s just-published annual activity report, covering Spring 2016-Spring 2017.
This book is devoted to the history and architecture of 39 extant and 302 vanished synagogues, situated in 23 cities and towns throughout the historical region of Volhynia in northwest Ukraine. The two-volume book of 848 pages includes 1,220 photographs, measured drawings and maps.
News in the Center for Jewish Art report also includes a description of an ongoing project that Kravtsov and Levin are carrying out for the Foundation for Jewish Heritage — an inventory of all the extant historical synagogues in Europe (up to the1950s).
Never before has such a listing been brought together and made publicly available. From estimated 15,000-20,000 synagogues which once existed on the continent, only about 3,000 structures of active and former synagogues survived. The Center’s researchers are mapping all extant synagogues and rate them according to their architectural, artistic, urban and historical significance, as well as the level of risk. Thus, the project aims to promote a debate – and activity – to ensure that all endangered synagogues are acknowledged, assessed and ultimately preserved.
1 comment on “Center for Jewish Art: recent activities; new book due out on Ukrainian synagogues”
I’ve had the privilege to see early pdf versions of these magnificent volumes. A monumental work is so many ways!