Jewish Heritage Europe

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 →

Heritage, memory, art: Wooden synagogues and fire

  Every so often we like to showcase artwork inspired by Jewish built heritage. Today, we present the work of two New York artists, Murray Zimiles and Bill Farran, who have both used the image and memory of the magnificently … continue reading →

December JHE Newsletter is out

The December Jewish Heritage Europe Newsletter is out. Our Newsletter includes links to JHE news, views, and insights on Jewish heritage issues from the past month — this month including news from Ukraine, Moldova, Lithuania, Belarus,  Northern Ireland, Romania, Poland, … continue reading →

On Jewish gravestones and the stone-carvers who made them: a stone-carver’s thoughts on tradition and symbolism

In Ashkenazi Eastern Europe the carved epitaphs and wealth of carved decoration on Jewish gravestones can be richly sculptural as well as symbolic. Unfortunately, little is known about the stone-carvers who created these memorials. We crosspost here an (updated) article … continue reading →

Belarus: finding, recovering, fencing a devastated Jewish cemetery

  The devastated Jewish cemetery in  the small town of Lohishyn, Belarus has a new fence, largely thanks to a descendant from the town, working together with local people including a school teacher and the mayor. Mimi Kim Klausner, an … continue reading →