The orphaned synagogue in the urban space. How do we engage with it? At first glance, this is the question within the scope of the contemporary concept of Critical Heritage Studies, which originates from the North American context. However, the alleged synagogues are located primarily in Central and Eastern Europe, in various Polish regions, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, the western Romanian cities of Oradea and Timişoara, and in Ukraine and Belarus.
In this case, the chosen concept must be adapted in many respects. As a result of these adaptations, a series of processes can be observed here, that show phases, dynamics, and intensities that have been little described so far and are characterized by phenomena such as de-demonization, de-ideologization, contextualization, appropriation, attempts to correct or improve conservation practices. The volume brings together analyses from very different perspectives – from transnational approaches to concepts from experts and reports from local initiatives.
CHRISTHARDT HENSCHEL, a research fellow at the GHI Warsaw.
RUTH LEISEROWITZ, Deputy Director at the GHI Warsaw and Professor of East European History at the Humboldt University of Berlin.
KAMILA LENARTOWICZ, NEELE MENTER, ZUZANNA ŚWIATOWY, all research fellows at the Bet Tfila – Research Unit for Jewish Architecture in Europe at the Technical University of Braunschweig in Germany.
