France’s Heritage Foundation (Fondation du Patrimoine) has awarded the sumptuously decorated 19th century synagogue in Benfeld, near Strasbourg in Alsace, a €20,000 Sesame Prize. The funds are to be used to continue ongoing restoration work aimed at creating a cultural and Jewish language center in the building.
The Sesame Prize, established in 2022, rewards activities and initiatives implemented within religious buildings, whether or not they are used for worship. Announced in late June, it was awarded to 15 sites around France.
Regarding the Benfeld synagogue, the Prize states:
In addition to its function religious, the synagogue will also have a cultural vocation by hosting concerts and participating in the Contemporary Art Paths which allow places to be opened to all in cooperation with artists and contemporary art institutions from the Grand-Est region. In addition, a linguistic center will be hosted there for the Alsatian Hebrew dialect, modern Hebrew and biblical Hebrew.
We posted in 2021 about the complex restoration of the synagogue, which is owned by the Bas Rhin Jewish Consistoire. The first phase of the restoration, which was begun in 2020, prioritized serious threats and damage from dry rot and humidity.
The Sesame Prize announcements notes that:
The restoration of the hand-painted blinds is in progress. The price will allow the remaining work to be finalized, so that the place can be opened within best conditions. This work concerns the masonry lots, the exterior rendering, the cut stone, coatings and painting, interior joinery and plaster ceilings.
The synagogue was originally built in 1846. It was enlarged and restructured 30 years later, and an organ was installed in 1895 — a rare example of an organ in a synagogue in France.
Click to read about the Sesame Prize and see the 15 winners
Click to see details of the restoration and plans in our 2021 post
PDF dossier from the Consistoire (in French) about the synagogue and restoration project