Jewish Heritage Europe

Belarus: Historic 17th century Slonim synagogue up for auction; starting price — €50,000

The historic abandoned synagogue in Slonim, Belarus — long the focus of fitful attempts at restoration — is up for sale. Belarus media report that the Slonim District Executive Committee Department of Culture has put it up for auction in … continue reading →

Germany: Though less than 20 years old, the Chemnitz New Synagogue needs extensive repairs; the city greenlights €300,000 for further work

Though less than 20 years old, the modern New Synagogue in Chemnitz, Germany needs extensive structural repairs due to leakage and other issues. The city has greenlighted a further €300,000 grant to continue repair work begun several years ago. According … continue reading →

Survey of Jewish built heritage in Iraq and Syria completed; 27 still extant sites considered endangered; four priority restoration sites targeted

The Jewish Cultural Heritage Initiative (JCHI) — a joint project of the London-based Foundation for Jewish Heritage (FJH) and the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR)— has completed an initial assessment of present and past Jewish heritage sites in Iraq … continue reading →

Italy: The Florence Synagogue reopens for a day — and channels Botticelli

After nearly three months of Coronavirus shutdown, the grand synagogue in Florence opened for a day on Sunday, with an art installation marking Shavuot that directly channeled the work of the great Florentine Renaissance artist Sandro Botticelli. The synagogue immediately … continue reading →

Round-up: Jewish cemetery clean-ups in Coronavirus times…Some go forward, some are cancelled, some postponed

Every year on Jewish Heritage Europe we post round-ups of various initiatives and projects aimed at restoring and cleaning up Jewish cemeteries that take place throughout the spring and summer all over Europe. Most are carried out by volunteers, and … continue reading →