Jewish Heritage Europe

Greece: The synagogue in Larissa, assessed as at risk of collapse, has been closed for more than a year partway through major restoration. The local Jewish community appeals for aid in completing the work

(JHE) — The structurally threatened Etz Hayyim synagogue in Larissa, central Greece has been closed for more than a year, partway through an extensive restoration process, and the small Jewish community in Larissa is appealing for aid to help complete … continue reading →

Spain: 3-year restoration work at medieval synagogue in Hijar is winding up; remarkable finds during the process, including remains of the bimah, document its history

This anonymous, early 15th century Catalan painting "Christ Among the Doctors" shows what the bimah in the medieval Hijar synagogue probably looked like. The painting is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

(JHE) — Extensive restoration work is winding up at the former medieval synagogue in Híjar, a small town in the northern Spanish region of Aragon. The first stage of work in 2017  revealed striking evidence of the building’s history, including … continue reading →

Serbia: After years of legal wrangling, the synagogue in Zemun, an outlying district of Belgrade, is returned to Jewish community ownership

(JHE) — After years of legal wrangling, the synagogue in Zemun, an outlying district of Belgrade, has been restituted back to Jewish community ownership. Built in the mid-19th century, it is currently used as a restaurant. “Our Synagogue is finally … continue reading →

Turkey: Progress in Izmir — rescue of the Etz Hayim and Talmud Torah synagogues, and substantial EU grant

(JHE) — Good news from Izmir! Nesim Bencoya reports  “meaningful progress” in the rescue of two long-derelict historic synagogues — the Etz Hayim and the Talmud Torah (Hevra). In addition, in a separate development, he reports that a broad, three-year … continue reading →

Poland: Maria Piechotka, influential pioneer of research on synagogue architecture, dies — at 100 — in Warsaw

(JHE) — The Jewish heritage world has lost a giant — Maria Piechotka, a pioneer in the study of synagogue architecture in Poland and mentor to generations, has died in Warsaw, just months after her 100th birthday. May her soul … continue reading →