Faina Kukliansky, the Chair of the Jewish Community in Lithuania, has sent us a progress report on efforts to preserve and restore several synagogues, including three of the 14 wooden synagogues remaining in the country. The Jewish Community working with … continue reading →
With Jewish genealogy a growth industry, and travel to eastern European eased, more and more people are “returning” (actually going for the first time) to the shtetls that their ancestors were often happy — or forced — to leave. The … continue reading →
It’s good to see the mainstream media pick up on Jewish heritage concerns and the difficult issue of how to deal with and use surviving synagogues in towns where Jews no longer live. The Slovak Spectator newspaper runs a lengthy … continue reading →
There’s a fascinating article in The Forward by Liam Hoare about the private synagogue that the financier Sir Moses Montefiore (1784-1885) built on his estate in Ramsgate, England, in the early 1830s. It was designed by his cousin, the architect … continue reading →
Opening Jewish heritage sites to tourism is one of the goals of preservation, restoration and promotion of these historic, fascinating (and often splendid) places. It allows them to be visited and encourages knowledge about Jewish history, heritage, traditions and culture. … continue reading →
