Jewish Heritage Europe

Photo essay: Trees and fruit for Tu B’Shevat

Monday marks Tu B’Shevat — the 15th of the Hebrew month of Shevat, which is known as “the New Year for Trees.” It is the time of year when the earliest-blooming trees in the land of Israel start to flower.  It is the … continue reading →

Portugal: Jewish interpretive center to open in town where “Rembrandt’s doctor” Ephraim Bueno was born

The town of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, in northern Portugal near the border with Spain, expects to open in April a long-planned Jewish  interpretive center, to highlight local Jewish history but also in hopes of drawing tourists. Dr. Ephraim Bueno … continue reading →

UK: A former synagogue in Newcastle has been converted into apartments — but its history is remembered

What to do — and how to do it — with large and/or historic synagogues closed because of dwindling congregations remain key issues, which we have written about several times in the past. Conversion into housing is one solution — … continue reading →

Italy: Using Facebook, the Venice Jewish Museum expands knowledge about synagogues with a regular series of posts translating their Hebrew Inscriptions

Synagogues the world over are filled with Hebrew inscriptions, on their walls, over the ark, on the bimah, over the doorway, as part of ritual objects… But many — if not most — people who visit synagogues may not know … continue reading →

UK: Historic England publishes Report on Anglo-Jewish cemeteries; follows on after earlier Report published in 2016 (Both are available online.)

Britain’s Historic England has published a major report on Jewish cemeteries in England, available online in PDF form — Historic England 2019 Anglo-Jewish Burial Grounds: The Post Resettlement Period. The illustrated, 24-page report, prepared by Nicky Smith and edited by … continue reading →