Jewish Heritage Europe

Lithuania: The 2023 documentary film – The Secrets of the Great Synagogue of Vilna – can now be viewed free online

We have posted a number of times about the extraordinary discoveries archaeologists have made over the past few years at the site of the destroyed Great Synagogue in Vilnius, Lithuania. Now the 2023 documentary film about the excavations and discoveries … continue reading →

France update: Heritage site designation extended to rabbi’s house and newly discovered wall paintings in the Guebwiller synagogue

Remnants of painted decoration in the Guebwillar synagogue. Photo: DRAC

The Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs (DRAC) of the Grand Est region of France has added to the register of historic monuments newly discovered wall paintings in the 19th century synagogue of Guebwiller, in the Haut-Rhin department of Alsace,  as … continue reading →

Italy: Ancient Roman-era Mikveh discovered at Ostia Antica; believed to be the oldest discovered outside the middle east

The Ostia Antica mikveh, snowing chamber and basin. Photo: Ministry of Culture

Archaeologists have discovered what they say is an ancient Roman-era mikveh amid the sprawling ruins of the ancient port city of Ostia Antica outside Rome. It was described as the oldest mikveh as yet discovered outside the middle east. The … continue reading →

Call for Papers: Tracing Jewish Histories – The Long Lives of Medieval Hebrew Manuscripts, Judaica, and Architecture. Submission deadline Feb. 27, 2025

Medieval Old Synagogue, Sopron, Hungary

We are pleased to share this CfP for the symposium: Tracing Jewish Histories: The Long Lives of Medieval Hebrew Manuscripts, Judaica, and Architecture,   May 19-20, 2025, The Courtauld Institute of Art’s Vernon Square campus, London Deadline for submissions:  February … continue reading →

Update: New book on “Jewish Country Houses”

Back in 2017, Oxford scholar Abigail Green wrote a Have Your Say op-ed for us, titled How recognizing the “Jewish country house” expands our understanding of Jewish heritage. She argued that, in addition to synagogues, Jewish cemeteries, tahara houses, and … continue reading →