Jewish Heritage Europe

UPDATED with new material: The Origins of the Women’s Gallery (and pictures)

View from the women's gallery, the monumental Zion Synagogue in Oradea, Romania, built in 1878 and designed by Dávid Busch, the city's chief architect

(JHE) — We have posted in the past about women’s galleries in the synagogue, mainly focusing on the architecture and physical sites. Two recent publications trace the origin of of the separation of women during prayer and the evolution of … continue reading →

Kristallnacht anniversary 2022: countering memories of destruction with images of wonderful surviving — and restored — synagogues

Zion Synagogue, Oradea, Romania JHE Instagram September 11, 2022

We’ve made it a JHE tradition. Tonight —the  night of November 9-10 — marks the 84th anniversary of the so-called Kristallnacht pogrom — Reichspogromnacht — in 1938, when the Nazis launched coordinated violent attacks on Jews, Jewish property and Jewish … continue reading →

International Youth Competition on “Local Jewish Cemeteries” — for high school students in Ukraine, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Moldova, Lithuania, and Georgia

Calling on high school students in Ukraine, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Moldova, Lithuania, and Georgia! You can submit a video or online brochure about your local Jewish cemetery and win a €250 prize in an International Youth Competition on “Local Jewish Cemeteries.” … continue reading →

Some Ukrainian refugees have found work — volunteer or paid — helping clean Jewish cemeteries. One example is in Pilsen, Czech Republic

Millions of Ukrainian refugees are still living outside their home country. Some have found work (both volunteer and paid) helping to clean and maintain Jewish cemeteries. Fred Chvatal, chair of the TAMUS – Tachov Archives & Museum’s Society, which carries … continue reading →

Poland: Long(er) read! Dr. Heidi M. Szpek’s detailed report on the Bagnowka Cemetery Restoration Project’s work in 2022 in Białystok, including recovery of long-buried early 19th century matzevot

In August, members of the U.S.-based  Białystok Cemetery Restoration Project (BCRP), carried out their first field work in the Bagnowka Jewish cemetery in Białystok Poland, since before the pandemic. We posted earlier about some of the discoveries — particularly of the … continue reading →