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1. Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece Prioritizes Conservation Needs for Jewish Sites
2. Czech Government Acts to Preserve Medieval Jewish Cemetery in Prague
3. Museum of Southern Jewish Experience Changes Name, Expands Mission
4. Jewish Museum in Berlin Opening Delayed Until 2001
5. Brazil Synagogue Remain Excavated in Recife

1. Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece Prioritizes Conservation Needs for Jewish Sites

In an unprecedented effort, the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece (KIS) has prepared documentation on the current state of care and preservation of dozens of important Jewish sites throughout Greece.  These include cemeteries and synagogues.  The report includes information on the history of each sites and its current condition.  Descriptions of necessary maintenance and restoration work are included, as well as costs.  These range from a few thousand dollars needed for some sites to much larger budgets for the more seriously damaged and endangered places.  Among the cemeteries, the report documents the sites of Xanthi, Chalkis (where restoration has already begun) and Athens.  The report also reports on the status of the synagogues at Chania (Etz Hayyim, where restoration of the structure was recently completed), the Ioanniotiki Synagogue in Athens, and Trikala's Kal Yavanim.

While most of Greece's Jewish population killed during World War II, some Jewish monuments still stand.  They stand, however, in danger.  ISJM has posted the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece's report on the web at http://www.isjm.org/country/greece/project.htm in the hope that the international community will be able to provide assistance.  The small Greek Jewish community, despite its best efforts, is unable to carry out and finance this work on its own.

2. Czech Government Acts to Preserve Medieval Jewish Cemetery in Prague

On May 29th, the Czech government announced a plan to preserve the remains of a Jewish cemetery in downtown Prague that has been a source of international controversy (for the full story see http://www.isjm.org/Links/praguecontro.htm ).  The compromise solution allows Ceska Pojistovna, the largest insurance company in the Czech Republic, to construct a modified version of its planned building around the remains of a medieval Jewish cemetery on Vladislavova Street and paves the way for the reburial of bones taken from the cemetery for archaeological research.

Michael Lewan, Chairman of the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America's Hertiage Abroad, which helped broker the compromise, said "Today we all owe the Czech Government and Ceska Pojistovna a deep debt of gratitude.  Their commitment to preserving the cemetery, and the active involvement of [US Commissioner] Rabbi Gluck, the American Embassy, and Congressman Ben Gilman in efforts to negotiate this complex issue, means that this sacred site will be protected for generations to come."

Ceska Pojistovna accidentally unearthed remains of the 13th century cemetery in 1997, touching off a heated controversy that eventually involved the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Yisrael Mier Lau.  In today's decision, the Czech government declared the area extending beyond Ceska Pojistovna's property to be a cultural memorial, and banned all future construction there.  Under the plan announced today, the Czech government will allocate about $1.2 million to compensate Ceska Pojistovna.  Lewan's Commission is working with the international Jewish community to raise additional funds for the cemetery's perpetual care.

3.  Museum of Southern Jewish Experience Changes Name, Expands Mission

The Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience in Utica Mississippi, one of America's most innovative Jewish cultural institutions is expanding its mission under a new name: the Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL).  Expanding the institution from a center for documenting and collecting the vanishing vestiges of Jewish life in a multi-state area of America's south, the new institute will employ a "circuit-riding Jewish educator, a rabbi, help preserve and maintain cemeteries, secure historic sites, record oral histories, develop a genealogy center, and become a major force in the advocacy for the small and isolated communities."

For years MSJE as provided an effective model for how Jewish cultural heritage can be protected and preserved, and also adapted as a vital educational and cultural resource in areas with rich Jewish histories, but relatively little contemporary recognition and clout in the modern Jewish world.  Under the guidance of Museum founder Macy Hart, the new Institute is more than likely to continue this leadership role.  The Institute will officially kick off with a gala event in New Orleans on September 16, 2000.  For more information about the museum and its new mission consult http://www.msje.org.

4. Jewish Museum in Berlin Opening Delayed Until 2001:
New "National" Mission Requires Expansion of Collection

The Jewish Museum Berlin, housed in the much-acclaimed new building by Daniel Libeskind, will not officially open until 2001.  Neither the building nor the museum that it will house are fully ready.  Indeed, the new building already requires refurbishing of its technical infrastructure (primarily wiring and air-conditioning) to properly present and conserve museum collections and effectively serve the large number of anticipated visitors.  Already, over 160,000 visitors have toured the building.

The good news is that the Libeskind building, originally erected as a wing to the Berlin Museum, will now house an independent entity - the Jewish Museum Berlin (http://www.hagalil.com/juedisches-museum/index.htm ).  The new foundation will depict not just the history of Berlin's Jews, but will address Jewish history throughout Germany, becoming a de facto national Jewish museum.

During the wait until opening the museum will continue to build its collection and refine its opening exhibitions.  At its inaugural exhibition in the in the 2001, the Museum will offer insights into German-Jewish life through numerous personal documents and objects. "The intimacy of personal mementos offers visitors the real possibility of identification, which is extremely important for our educational work with young people," said Gisela Freydank, archivist at the Jewish Museum. "We are not only interested in famous people like Einstein, Rathenau or Liebermann.  We feel that it is especially important to document the lives of ordinary people."

To this end the Jewish Museum hopes to contact emigrants and survivors, their children and grandchildren, as well as other family members or friends to lend or donate their mementos.  Curators are looking for objects which reflect the centuries of Jewish family-life in Germany, as well as objects which attest to persecution, life in exile or in DP camps, and documents relating to reparation or restitution proceedings after 1989.  Desired objects include photographs, letters, diplomas, diaries, family trees, family photo albums, portraits, identity papers, passports, medals, awards, company brochures and catalogs as well as toys, china, silver, table linens or ceremonial objects - anything which testifies to everyday life and work or to special occasions like family celebrations and holidays.

To contribute, or for further information please contact:
Juedisches Museum Berlin
Leonore Maier, Lindenstr. 9-14
D-10969 Berlin
e-mail: museum@hagalil.com
Tel.: 030-25993-3
Fax: 030-25993-409

5. Brazil Synagogue Remain Excavated in Recife

A recent article by Larry Rohter in The New York Times (May 19, 2000) reported on the ongoing excavations of the former synagogue in Recife, Brazil - the oldest synagogue remains in the Western Hemisphere.  Located on the Street of Benevolent Jesus, the former synagogue site recalls a little known chapter in New World Jewish history - a time when Recife was the home of over 1,000 Jews (and perhaps as many as 1,400) - mostly former New Christians who arrived direct from Portuguese territories, or via Holland, which controlled the territory.

Kahal Zur Israel synagogue was erected soon after the Dutch took control of the area in 1630 and established rules of religious tolerance.  Recife fell to the Portuguese in 1654, ending the Jewish presence in Brazil until modern times, and sending refugees to Suriname, throughout the Caribbean and to the small Dutch North American settlement of New Amsterdam - now New York City.

The synagogue excavation is directed by Marcos Albuquerque of the Federal University of Pernambuco.  Along with traces of the synagogue is a well believed to part of a mikvah.  The old synagogue will not be restored - too little is known of its appearance.  Plans are to turn the site into a museum and cultural center of the Jewish presence in Brazil.  The Brazil excavation complements work sponsored by ISJM documenting the Jewish presence in Suriname (see: http://www.isjm.org/jhr/nos3-4/suriname.htm ).