Jewish Heritage Europe

CZ: Photographer captures “Invisible Synagogues” — blank spaces where destroyed synagogues once stood in cities, towns, and villages in the Czech Republic

Many photographers have focused their work on surviving — if ruined — Jewish heritage sites in Europe. The Czech photographer Štěpán Bartoš has a documentation, exhibit, and book project where he photographs the blank spaces in the Czech Republic where … continue reading →

Happy Hanukkah 2021 from JHE!

Jewish Heritage Europe wishes all our readers and friends a Happy Hanukkah! Thank you for your interest and support — and thanks especially to those of you who have contacted us with questions and comments, with news of publications and … continue reading →

Kristallnacht anniversary 2021: countering memories of destruction with images of wonderful surviving — and restored — synagogues

We’ve made it a JHE tradition. Last night — night of November 9-10 — marked the  83st anniversary of the so-called Kristallnacht pogrom — Reichspogromnacht — in 1938, when the Nazis launched coordinated violent attacks on Jews, Jewish property and … continue reading →

Pipe Organs in Synagogues — Pride and Polemics. (See pix and access an article and music)

Ark in the Fabric synagogue, Timisoara, showing the organ behind and above it. Photo © Anna Szentgyörgyi

Having an organ in a synagogue is a fairly recent innovation, related to the emancipation of the Jews and spread of reform Judaism in the 19th century.  The introduction of a pipe organ into a synagogue sometimes sparked heated polemics. … continue reading →

Jewish Cemetery Clean-ups — Round-up #4. Dozens more initiatives. Episodes of vandalism prompt legitimate outrage and widespread condemnation, but the many, many more instances of volunteers cleaning, restoring, and maintaining Jewish cemeteries are often overlooked

We can’t stress enough the importance of this post. Episodes of vandalism at Jewish cemeteries prompt legitimate outrage and widespread condemnation, but the many, many more instances of volunteers and others cleaning, restoring, and maintaining Jewish cemeteries are rarely noted. … continue reading →