Synagogue Art in Jewish Life | ||
| For centuries, Jews populated the
villages, towns and cities of continental Europe until the Holocaust destroyed
their communities and their lives. They no longer live in the thousands of villages,
towns and cities of their former prominent presence, but the houses, shops,
factories and community institutions that the Jewish culture had created remain
there, ownerless and unguarded. | ||
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| ITALY | CROATIA-SERBIA | GREECE |
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Surviving synagogue buildings and cemeteries are often the only structures that are of recognizably Jewish
origin. The synagogues were the places most fully charged with specific Jewish
identity. Their art and architecture constitute a record of what was
esthetically important to the communities that built and used them. Synagogue
art must therefore be documented, remembered and preserved as a major visual
element of Jewish history. | ||
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| AUSTRIA | CZECH REPUBLIC | SLOVAKIA |
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With this mission in mind, Rivka and Ben-Zion Dorfman documented synagogue art and architecture,
particularly in the lesser-known hinterland settlements. In Austria, the Czech
Republic, Greece, Hungary Italy, Slovakia and the former Yugoslavia, they sought out
synagogue buildings in villages, towns and cities to record the grandeur and
the desolation that remained of the former Jewish presence. | ||
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| HUNGARY | SYNAGOGUE ART RESEARCH |
Book: Synagogeus Without Jews |
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Local populations had converted many buildings into dwellings, storerooms, churches, commercial
premises or other mundane uses. In the past two decades, however, a trend has
developed for restoration to cultural use and some are being turned into
galleries, museums, libraries and concert halls. As this site develops and
expands, it will present new and current information on this aspect. | ||
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| Book: Preface |
Book: Full chapter |
OUR TEAM |
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The primary source for the present content of this Synagogues Without Jews website
is the Dorfmans’ book Synagogues Without Jews and the communities
that built and used them. A growing cadre of
enthusiastic volunteers is busy researching the histories of more communities
and preparing them for posting on this site, together with photographs from the
Dorfman Archive of Synagogue Art. | ||
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| What´s New? | How Can I Help? | Baja Hungary |
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We invite your comment and participation. | ||
| Unless otherwise noted, all photographs on this site are the work of Rivka and Ben-Zion Dorfman. All the illustrations are copyright © by them and all rights are reserved. Neither art nor text may be copied by any means or for any purpose without express, written permission. | ||
