Jewish Heritage Europe

Poland: RIP Krzysztof Śliwiński, early Catholic activist in Jewish heritage preservation and post-Communist Poland’s first official “roving ambassador” to the Jewish diaspora

(JHE) — We mourn the death of Krzysztof Śliwiński, a Polish diplomat and intellectual who was an early Catholic activist in Jewish heritage preservation and in fostering Polish-Jewish relations — in 1995 he was named post-Communist Poland’s first official roving … continue reading →

Belarus: Slonim synagogue sold at auction for €9000 to a Minsk musician/children’s book author

(JHE) — The long-abandoned 17th century Great Synagogue in Slonim was sold at auction on December 29  to a space exploration-loving musician/writer from Minsk named Ilona Karavaeva, local media report. It was the fourth attempt to sell the long-derelict building … continue reading →

Germany: Multi-million-euro restoration project set for the Ohlsdorf Jewish cemetery in Hamburg (It’s one of three big Jewish heritage projects announced in Hamburg)

(JHE) — The ceremonial hall and other parts of the historic Ohlsdorf Jewish cemetery in Hamburg will undergo a multi-million-euro renovation starting this summer, thanks to substantial grants from the city of Hamburg and the German federal government. The city’s … continue reading →

Romania: Main Gate of Sibiu Great Synagogue restored, thanks to German government funding. It follows other German-funded maintenance work there in 2019

(JHE) — The Great Synagogue in Sibiu, Romania, has a newly restored main gate, thanks to the financial support of the German Foreign Ministry, which had also financed earlier maintenance and renovation work there. Work was carried out by itinerant … continue reading →