Jewish Heritage Europe

Germany: Archaeologists uncover foundations of the synagogue in Leer, Germany, destroyed on Kristallnacht

Archaeologists have recently uncovered the foundations of the domed synagogue in Leer, Germany, which was destroyed on Kristallnacht, 1938. The excavations took place in early June, ahead of the beginning of construction on the site of a commercial and residential … continue reading →

Poland: RIP Tadeusz Kuźmiński, who rebuilt a wooden synagogue and created a “living shtetl skansen” without Jews in southeast Poland

Tadeusz Kuźmiński, an entrepreneur who rebuilt a wooden synagogue and created a “living shtetl skansen” without Jews in southeast Poland, has died after a long illness. He was 65. Kuźmiński, who died Saturday, was a businessman and local philanthropist in … continue reading →

Italy: Full-scale €9 million revamp & expansion of the Venice Jewish Museum announced; work due to start in October and last 3 years

If all goes well, the Jewish Museum of Venice will undergo a full-scale expansion, revamp, and redevelopment starting in October, right after the High Holidays. The last step before the definitive launch of the three-year, €9 million project is the … continue reading →

Germany: Dozens of gravestones in the medieval Jewish cemetery in Worms — Europe’s oldest in situ — vandalized with paint. Woman detained

Ancient gravestones in the Worms Jewish cemetery.

At least 50 gravestones in the medieval Jewish cemetery in Worms, Germany were smeared with paint in a vandal attack. A person the local media said appeared “confused” was detained. An investigation is under way but the city has initially … continue reading →

Ukraine: Major new resource for Jewish cemetery preservation in western Ukraine (with lots of material applicable to projects elsewhere, too)

We are pleased to introduce our readers to a major new (and comprehensive) web resource for Jewish cemetery restoration and commemoration. Called A Guide to Jewish Cemetery Preservation in Western Ukraine, it’s a dense and complex web site, launched this … continue reading →