Jewish Heritage Europe

Glorious synagogues to mark anniversaries: 25 years since the Wall came down (and 76 years since Kristallnacht)

  The Berlin Wall came down 25-years ago, on November 9, 1989 — a day that also marked the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the night of Nov. 9-10 1938 when the Nazis launched coordinated violent attacks on Jews, Jewish property and Jewish … continue reading →

Simchat Torah! Celebrating the Torah with images of Arks

Simchat Torah — Rejoicing in the Torah, the Jewish festival that celebrates the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings (and beginning of the new cycle), falls on Thursday-Friday, Oct. 16-17. To mark the occasion, here are some images of the Aron ha Kodesh, … continue reading →

Renovated Synagogue in Banská Štiavnica, SK dedicated

The long-dilapidated, late 19th century synagogue in the small town of Banská Štiavnica, Slovakia was rededicated in September after a 14-month, nearly €900,000 renovation process. A commemorative plaque honoring the destroyed Jewish community was unveiled. The synagogue, picturesquely situated in the town … continue reading →

Posing the question — in 1990: should old synagogues in eastern Europe be saved

  Our previous post highlighted an article by Phyllis Myers in this month’s Moment Magazine in which she poses the old question: should old synagogues in eastern Europe be saved? Her answer was a decided YES. It is important to remember, however, … continue reading →

Revisiting an old question: Are the old synagogues of eastern Europe worth saving?

In a compelling essay for Moment Magazine, Phyllis Myers,  a conservation policy and politics adviser to governments and private groups, returns to consider a question she first addressed some 25 years ago — a question that we at JHE feel has long been answered: … continue reading →