Jewish Heritage Europe

Have Your Say: At Oświęcim/Auschwitz: Honoring Those Who Died By Remembering How They Lived

In our new Have Your Say essay, Maciek Zabierowski describes the latest commemorative project of the  Auschwitz Jewish Center in Oświęcim, Poland — the town outside which the Auschwitz death camp was built. It was known in Yiddish as Oshpitzin. … continue reading →

Italy: Venosa — a treasure trove of catacombs & other Jewish heritage dating back to ancient Roman times

Inscription of a Menorah in the Jewish catacombs of Venosa

The small town of Venosa lies amid barren terrain in an out-of-the-way part of southern Italy, but it is the site of a rich trove of Jewish heritage sites — including catacombs — that shed important light on Jewish life … continue reading →

Czech Republic: New visitor information panels installed at 6 (fairly out-of-the-way) Jewish cemeteries in western/southwestern Bohemia

Signposting Jewish heritage sites is an important way to “put them back on the map” and educate local people and visitors alike. The Tachov Archives and Museum Society — TAMUS, a Czech non-profit NGO deeply involved in documenting and preserving … continue reading →

Purim! A time for celebration (….and drink… and imbibing a bit of Jewish heritage)

It’s Purim! — a time of crazy celebration that often includes quantities of …. drink. We’re taking a little look at that today. Wine — kosher wine — forms part of many Jewish ceremonies and rituals, including Shabbat and holiday … continue reading →

Romania Update: QR code tourism resources in Alba Iulia include Jewish heritage sites

The historic  Jewish cemetery and recently restored synagogue are included in a program launched by the city of Alba Iulia that tags cultural sites with QR codes that can be accessed by visitors on smart phones and tablets. Called “Discover … continue reading →