Jewish Heritage Europe

Ukraine: Death from COVID-19 of Hryhoriy Arshynov, dynamic Jewish activist who spearheaded the restoration of the Great Maharsha Synagogue and the rescue of the Jewish cemetery in Ostroh

(JHE) — We mourn the death of Hryhoriy (Grisha) Arshynov, a Jewish activist who fought for decades to rescue and preserve the Jewish cemetery in Ostroh, Ukraine — and over the past four years spearheaded the restoration of the town’s … continue reading →

Lithuania: Archaeologists uncover part of destroyed, pre-WW2 shulhoyf in Pakruojis (that was anchored by the surviving, and recently restored wooden synagogue)

(JHE) — Archaeologists in recent months discovered elements of the destroyed pre-World War II synagogue complex in Pakruojis, Lithuania, that once had three synagogues anchored by the surviving wooden synagogue (the so-called summer synagogue), which was recently fully restored. At … continue reading →

Lithuania: The wooden synagogues in Alanta and Kurkliai are under restoration

(JHE) — The small wooden synagogues in Alanta and Kurkliai, Lithuania, are under restoration. In Kurkliai, according to the news site 15min.lt, maintenance and conservation work has been going on since 2019. The logs of the walls were strengthened and rotten logs … continue reading →

Hungary: Restoration of the hauntingly beautiful, long-abandoned synagogue in Kőszeg has begun

(JHE) — Renovation of the long-abandoned 19th century synagogue in Kőszeg, in western Hungary on the Austrian border, has finally begun, following years of false starts and failed announcements. The work represents the first phase of a larger plan that … continue reading →

Austria Update: Restoration of the former synagogue in Kobersdorf (in Burgenland) is now under way

(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 … continue reading →