Jewish Heritage Europe

Lithuania: a six-year restoration has brought back the original appearance of the synagogue in Kupiškis, long used as a library

The former Great Synagogue in Kupiškis, long used as a public library, has been reopened after six years of renovation and reconstruction work that brought back its original appearance. The building was formally opened in March, at a ceremony attended by … continue reading →

Italy: Structural threat to Florence synagogue tower prompts Go Fund Me crowd-funder

Tourists outside synagogue in Florence

Workers carrying out general restoration and maintenance of the grand, domed synagogue in Florence have discovered serious damage to a load-bearing column in the building’s left tower, necessitating urgent repair work. The Jewish community and the Opera del Tempio Ebraico … continue reading →

Netherlands: After standing empty for years, and before that used for decades as a museum, a former synagogue in Nijmegen has become an upscale sports hall

A former synagogue in Nijmegen that had served for decades as a Natural History Museum has now become an upscale sports center. The red brick New Synagogue on residential Gerard Noodtstraat was designed by the architect Oscar Leeuw (1866-1944) in … continue reading →

Poland: Ryszard Bielawski, prolific Jewish heritage YouTuber, dies at 92

Ryszard Bielawski, a Polish zoologist who had a passion for creating YouTube videos of Jewish cemeteries and other Jewish heritage sites, has died at the age of 92. Bielawski, who has been described as  “probably the first and oldest YouTuber … continue reading →