Jewish Heritage Europe

Ukraine update: New video shows dramatic progress at Ostroh’s Great Maharsha Synagogue; restoration of interior columns

We’ve been following with great interest the progress of the restoration of the Great Maharsha Synagogue in Ostroh, Ukraine. This new video, showing the restoration of the capitals of the columns, is, well, thrilling — given the state of the … continue reading →

Genealogy: IAJGS conference is more than lectures

Warsaw is gearing up for the annual conference of the International Association of Jewish Genealogy Societies (IAJGS), which begins on Sunday at the Polin museum and other venues. There are scores of presentations, on all sorts of topics of interest … continue reading →

Round-up: Summer time is Jewish cemetery clean-up time

Jewish cemetery, Holesov, CZ

So many Jewish cemetery/Jewish heritage volunteer clean-up operations take place each spring and summer that it’s hard to keep track. Here are just a few that have caught our eye — some that have taken place, some that are under … continue reading →

On the road in CZ: the rural Jewish world of Police; a tiny village synagogue under restoration

The Jewish community in the village of Police in the southern Czech Republic dwindled away by the early 20th century, but its 18th century synagogue is under renovation to serve as a culture center and museum about the lost world … continue reading →

Lithuania: Archaeologists unearth Bimah of Vilnius Great Synagogue

An international team of archaeologists from the USA, Canada, Lithuania and Israel have revealed the foundations of the Bimah that once anchored the destroyed Great Synagogue in Vilnius, locating it directly under the school building that was constructed atop the … continue reading →