Jewish Heritage Europe

Czech Republic: A new NGO spearheads the restoration of the synagogue in Volyně and its transformation into a cultural and educational center. It was previously used as a cinema and disco

Carving above the entrance of the former synagogue in Volyně, CZ

A new NGO is spearheading efforts to restore the former synagogue in Volyne, a small town in the Czech Republic, around 130 km south of Prague, and transform it into a cultural and educational center. The NGO, Synagoga Volyně, z.ú., … continue reading →

Spain: Remains of the medieval synagogue discovered during restoration of the main altarpiece in the Santa Maria la Blanca church in Seville

The mail altarpiece, Santa Maria la Blanca church, Seville. Photo via wikipedia by CarlosVdeHabsburgo, CC BY-SA 4.0 Deed

Experts carrying out restoration work on the apse and elaborate main altarpiece of the Santa Maria la Blanca church in Seville have identified the site, long concealed by the altar, where the Ark had stood when the church functioned as … continue reading →

RIP Frank Stella. We recall the 2016 exhibition in Warsaw of his work inspired by the destroyed wooden synagogues of Eastern Europe

Cover of the catalogue of the Frank Stella exhibit at POLIN museum

The death of the renowned American artist Frank Stella leads us to recall the major exhibition of his work in 2016, inspired by the destroyed wooden synagogues of Eastern Europe. Stella died Saturday at his home in New York, aged … continue reading →

Lithuania: After a 2-year break, archaeologists return to the excavations of the Vilna Great Synagogue this summer, and welcome volunteers

Montage of photos from the Vilna Synagogue excavations, from the 2024 season announcement

After a two-year break, a team of  international archaeologists is returning this summer to continue excavations at the site of the Vilna Great Synagogue and Shulhoyf in Vilnius — and they are welcoming volunteers. The excavations will take place July … continue reading →

Germany: Archaeologists begin excavating the site of the destroyed synagogue in Fulda, as part of plans to create a permanent memorial

Archaeological work begins at the site of the Fulda synagogue. Photo © City of Fulda

Archaeologists are exploring the site of the synagogue in Fulda, in central Germany, which was torched  on Kristallnacht, November 1938, and razed a few months later.  The work is taking place within the context of plans to redesign and upgrade … continue reading →