Jewish Heritage Europe

Slovakia: Jewish genealogist attempts to restore vast Jewish cemetery in Košice, stone by stone

A Jewish genealogist is attempting to restore the large Jewish cemetery in Košice, in eastern Slovakia, by rescuing and restoring fallen and broken headstones, one by one. Peter Absolon, who runs the Kosice-based Slovakia Jewish Genealogy Services, states that his … continue reading →

Lithuania: documentation of Seirijai Jewish cemetery complete

Maceva, the Litvak Jewish Cemetery Catalogue, reports that documentation of the Jewish cemetery in Seirijai, which was initiated last year, is practically completed. The cemetery was cleaned and the remaining tombstones counted and photographed in August 2018  during the fourth … continue reading →

Belarus: Jewish cemetery in Derechin restored thanks to descendants; commemorative plaque to be mounted in May

In a years-long effort spearheaded by a family of descendants, the long-neglected Jewish cemetery in Derechin, Belarus (also spelled Dereczyn) has been restored and a commemorative plaque will be mounted at a rededication ceremony May 22. The works, carried out … continue reading →

Romania: Great Temple synagogue in Deva rededicated after 2-year restoration

Sheheheyanu in Romania! The Great Temple synagogue in Deva, in Transylvania in western Romania, was recently rededicated with a gala ceremony after undergoing two years of restoration. The ceremony March 31 included prayers, returning Torahs to the ark, placing a … continue reading →

Moldova: First-stage of restoration of Jewish cemetery in Chisinau lays bare vast space; reveals — but also causes — damage

The near-total removal of trees and other vegetation in the first stage of the state-sponsored restoration of the Jewish cemetery in Chisinau has laid bare the vast expanse in a way that has revealed the extent of damage to the … continue reading →