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 →

Austria: 3-year, €600,000 renovation of Klosterneuburg Jewish cemetery completed; project was in framework of federally funded Fund for the Restoration of Jewish Cemeteries in Austria

  (JHE) — A 3-year, €600,000 project to renovate and secure the Jewish cemetery in Klosterneuburg has been completed. Established in around 1873, the cemetery has 652 graves and extends over 4,000 square meters. Work took place in three phases, … continue reading →

Hungary: Second stage of state funded program sees restoration work and/or fencing of c. 50 abandoned or neglected Jewish cemeteries

(JHE) — Renovation work and fencing will go forward at around 50 abandoned or neglected Jewish cemeteries in Hungarian small towns and villages in a second phase of a state-funded program to maintain and restore  Jewish burial grounds. The Hungarian … continue reading →

Poland: Mazel tov to Paweł Kulig, winner of the 2020 POLIN award — and to the runners up. Kulig cares for the vast Jewish cemetery and other Jewish heritage in Łódź

Mazel to to Paweł Kulig who has received the 2020 POLIN Award presented by the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw! It was the sixth edition of the award.  The Awards, which include a sculpture as … continue reading →