Jewish Heritage Europe

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 →

Anniversary of Anniversaries: Events in November and December mark the 140th anniversary of the Great Synagogue in Bordeaux, France

The year 2022 marks the 10th anniversary of Jewish Heritage Europe. The theme of  our  birthday celebrations is the “Anniversary of Anniversaries” — that is, using JHE’s own anniversary to feature other significant or symbolic anniversaries. Here, we highlight the 140th anniversary of … continue reading →

Belgium: Antwerp’s “Dutch Synagogue” is open again after a five-year full restoration

Antwerp’s  monumental so-called “Dutch Synagogue” (Hollandse Synagoge) reopened this summer after a full-scale restoration that began in 2017. It will be used to serve its congregation, but also may be developed for tourism.   Designed by Joseph Hertogs and inaugurated … continue reading →

Italy: The Synagogue in Alessandria has been reopened to the public after completion of the final phase of a lengthy restoration process

The ornate 19th-century synagogue in Alessandria, in northwest Italy’s Piedmont region, has been reopened to the public again after the completion of a gradual full-scale restoration whose final phase began in 2019. Designed by Giovanni Roveda, the synagogue is situated in … continue reading →