The Foundation’s work in Europe is recognised in major new report

The Foundation for Jewish Heritage’s work in Europe features in a major new report launched by The Heritage Alliance, From Local to Global: The Power of Heritage in a Changing World.

The report, produced in partnership with Europa Nostra UK and with the support of World Monuments Fund Britain, illustrates the significant contribution the UK’s heritage sector makes by exploring five key themes: international partnership, global collaboration, network-building, funding and shared expertise.

From local charities to national institutions, the report illustrates how heritage operates as both a national asset and a global connector – addressing shared challenges including climate change, conflict recovery, community cohesion and sustainable development.

As featured in the report:

The Foundation for Jewish Heritage works in the UK and internationally to ensure that important Jewish architectural sites, monuments and places of cultural significance in danger are preserved and re-imagined for a sustainable future.

In its Mapping the Historic Synagogues of Europe project, the Foundation worked with the Centre for Jewish Art at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem to create an inventory of all 3,347 historic synagogues of Europe currently extant. The mapping assesses each site according to its significance and condition and provides a new resource for everyone involved or interested in the current state of synagogue preservation throughout Europe.

Crucially, it also enabled the Foundation to be comprehensive and strategic in approaching its own preservation agenda by identifying the most important synagogue sites that are most in danger.

Based on the mapping work, the Foundation has prioritised and engaged with a number of significant synagogue preservation and repurposing projects across Europe including in Hijar Spain, Fagaras Romania, Izmir Turkey, Orla Poland, Hamburg Germany and Korneuburg Austria. The Foundation also has three ongoing projects in the UK.

Last year, the Foundation’s Polish project - the 17th century baroque Great Synagogue in Orla, was listed as one of the 7 Most Endangered heritage sites in Europe by Europa Nostra. The Foundation worked together with the Synagogue’s owners, the Foundation for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage in Poland (FODZ), to make this application. The Jewish community that the Synagogue served for centuries was lost in the tragedy of the Holocaust during WW2. Several local civil society organisations have an interest in preserving the Synagogue with the full support of the local Mayor and Municipality.

The Foundation, in partnership with the University of the Arts Poznan and FODZ, hosted a very successful week-long Arts Festival based at the Synagogue in 2021. The Foundation is currently funding a Feasibility Study that is testing the idea of the Synagogue serving as a permanent arts and educational centre.

To read the report, click on this link here