Jewish Heritage Europe

Germany: Restoration plans for the two synagogues in Essen — the monumental Old Synagogue (now a Jewish culture center) and the postwar New Synagogue complex

The two synagogues in Essen, Germany will see restoration in the coming months. The stone facade and copper roof of the monumental Old Synagogue will be refurbished, while the community hall of the postwar New Synagogue  complex will be restored. … continue reading →

UPDATED with new material: The Origins of the Women’s Gallery (and pictures)

View from the women's gallery, the monumental Zion Synagogue in Oradea, Romania, built in 1878 and designed by Dávid Busch, the city's chief architect

(JHE) — We have posted in the past about women’s galleries in the synagogue, mainly focusing on the architecture and physical sites. Two recent publications trace the origin of of the separation of women during prayer and the evolution of … continue reading →

Germany: €900,000 in state and federal grants to restore the 12th century mikveh in Worms

German state and federal governments have allocated €900,000 toward the restoration of the medieval mikveh in the synagogue complex in Worms. During a visit to the synagogue this week, Rhineland-Palatinate state’s Interior Minister Michael Ebling officially presented a €360,000 grant … continue reading →

Kristallnacht anniversary 2022: countering memories of destruction with images of wonderful surviving — and restored — synagogues

Zion Synagogue, Oradea, Romania JHE Instagram September 11, 2022

We’ve made it a JHE tradition. Tonight —the  night of November 9-10 — marks the 84th anniversary of the so-called Kristallnacht pogrom — Reichspogromnacht — in 1938, when the Nazis launched coordinated violent attacks on Jews, Jewish property and Jewish … continue reading →

Greece: The restored synagogue in Trikala is officially rededicated after a full restoration

The restored Kal Kadosh Yavanim synagogue in Trikala, northern Greece, was officially rededicated with three days of events this month, following a full restoration that took place between 2017 and 2019. The events October 14-16 included religious services, an exhibition, a … continue reading →