Jewish Heritage Europe

France: The Heritage Foundation awards the sumptuously decorated 19th century synagogue in Benfeld, near Strasbourg in Alsace,  a €20,000  Sesame Prize.

In this general view of the Benfeld synagogue before the renovation, cracks in the ceiling are visible. Photo: Pavlina/Consistoire Israelite du Bas Rhin

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 … continue reading →

Austria: The more the €1 million restoration of the Jewish cemetery in St. Pölten, carried out with federal and provincial funding, has been completed. It is being handed over to the city for longterm upkeep.

The newly-restored Jewish cemetery in St. Pölten, May 2024 Photo © National Fund/Judith Pfeffer

The more the €1 million restoration of the “new” Jewish cemetery in St. Pölten, carried out with federal and provincial funding,  has been completed, and on Friday (June 28) the cemetery will be handed over to the St. Pölten local … continue reading →

Czech Republic: Important Jewish heritage web resource is now (at least partially) in English

Screenshot of interactive Czech map

(JHE) — An important online resource for Jewish heritage sites in the Czech Republic is now at least partially available in English. Called  Židovské památky Čech, Moravy a Slezska – Jewish Heritage in Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia, it is a revamped … continue reading →

Ukraine: Colourful wall paintings have been discovered in the one-time Beit Midrash in Illintsi, western Ukraine.  

One of the recently discovered murals in the Beit Midrash, Illinois. Photo courtesy of Vitalii Kamozin

Colourful wall paintings have been discovered in the one-time Beit Midrash, part of a former shulhoyf in Illintsi, in the Vinnytsia region of western Ukraine.   JHE friend Vitalii Kamozin, the COO of the United Jewish Community of Ukraine (UJCU), … continue reading →