(JHE) — Restoration work has begun at the former synagogue in Kobersdorf. As we reported last year, the Austrian land (region) of Burgenland purchased the former synagogue and intends to restore it for use as a cultural site.
The Burgenland Region web site said the work should be completed by the end of 2021. It is keeping track and providing updates, including pictures, on the progress on the web site.
It said that studies conducted ahead of the start of work showed that “all parts of the building, building infrastructure, outdoor facilities and fencing of the former synagogue” would require a “comprehensive” renovation and restoration.
It posted pictures of some some of the specific places where work will be carried out.
Plans for the renovation include:
- Restoration of the facade and walls, including drainage of the water-soaked masonry walls.
- Repair, rebuilding, or replacement of the 16 windows, which are currently boarded up for protection
- Renovation of doors and portals
- Restoration of the grounds and the brick-and-fencing enclosure surrounding the site
- Restoration of the interior walls, including painted decoration
- Treating the roof truss and women’s gallery area for woodworm (otherwise most of the wooden part of the roof and gallery are in fairly good condition)
The synagogue was inaugurated in April, 1860 and survives as the only free-standing synagogue building in the region. Devastated by the Nazis, it was restituted to the Vienna Jewish community after the war, but remained unused. In 1994 it was purchased by an NGO that had hoped to restore it as a cultural venue, but was not successful.
Burgenland stretches along the border with Hungary and was long contested by the two powers. Jewish settlement here was extensive, dating back to the Middle Ages and especially encouraged in the latter part of the 17th century.
Kobersdorf was one of the Jewish settlements in the area that were noted as the “Seven Holy Communities” (Hebrew: Sheva Kehilot Kedoshot) and which were under the protection of the Esterhazy family. The others were Deutschkrertz, Eisenstadt, Kittsee, Frauenkirchen, Lackenbach, and Mattersburg.
Burgenland Region web page on the state of the restoration
Read the Austrian Jewish Museum blog about the synagogue its history
Read our June 2019 article about the synagogue