Current:Home > reviewsUNESCO names Erfurt’s medieval Jewish buildings in Germany as a World Heritage Site -WealthMap Solutions
UNESCO names Erfurt’s medieval Jewish buildings in Germany as a World Heritage Site
View
Date:2025-04-11 22:39:33
BERLIN (AP) — A U.N. committee on Sunday named a group of medieval Jewish sites in the eastern German city of Erfurt as a World Heritage Site, the second time Jewish heritage in Germany has been added to the list in recent years.
Among the buildings included in the new designation are Erfurt’s Old Synagogue, a 13th-century stone building that illustrates Jewish family life in the medieval era, and a traditional ritual bath, or mikveh.
The decision was made at a meeting of the U.N. World Heritage Committee in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, under the auspices of the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO.
Erfurt’s Jewish heritage sites have a long history, but had been largely forgotten until relatively recently. After pogroms in the 14th century drove much of Erfurt’s Jewish population out of the city, the Old Synagogue was used as a storehouse and then a restaurant and dance hall. Its historical importance was only rediscovered and established in 1988.
The ritual bath was filled in and used as a cellar for centuries and was only recognized for its historical and cultural background in 2007.
“The Jewish monuments of Erfurt were nearly forgotten for centuries,” said Maria Boehmer, president of the German UNESCO commission. “Their rediscovery is a great gift.”
Paris-based UNESCO began the World Heritage List in 1978. It includes a broad array of over 1,000 sites — from the Acropolis in Athens to the Great Wall of China — nominated by their respective nations.
Sunday’s news comes two years after UNESCO first recognized Jewish cultural heritage sites in Germany. That year, it added the so-called ShUM Jewish sites in the Rhine river cities of Mainz, Worms and Speyer to its list of World Heritage Sites.
UNESCO’s choice to also add Erfurt “makes a further important contribution to making the common roots of Jews and Christians in Germany and Europe visible and preserving them for the future,” Kerstin Puerschel, Germany’s ambassador to UNESCO, said in a statement.
The inclusion of Erfurt brings the total number of World Heritage Sites in Germany to 52.
veryGood! (35)
Related
- Israel lets Palestinians go back to northern Gaza for first time in over a year as cease
- NYC officials announce hate crime charge in stabbing death of gay dancer O'Shae Sibley
- WWE SummerSlam 2023 results: Roman Reigns wins Tribal Combat after Jimmy Uso returns
- Officials order Wisconsin brewery to close. Owner says it’s payback for supporting liberals
- South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
- 4th body is found in New Jersey house that exploded; 2 injured children were rescued by civilians
- Got a data breach alert? Don't ignore it. Here's how to protect your information.
- Two boaters die in northern Wisconsin lake
- Federal appeals court upholds $14.25 million fine against Exxon for pollution in Texas
- Washington and Oregon leave behind heritage -- and rivals -- for stability in the Big Ten
Ranking
- Highlights from Trump’s interview with Time magazine
- 'Breaking Bad,' 'Better Call Saul' actor Mark Margolis dies at 83
- Farm Jobs Friday
- Mega Millions jackpot winners can collect anonymously in certain states. Here's where.
- Person accused of accosting Rep. Nancy Mace at Capitol pleads not guilty to assault charge
- Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner returns after mental health break
- Ohio men will stand trial for murder charges in 1997 southern Michigan cold case
- World Cup's biggest disappointments: USWNT escaped group but other teams weren't so lucky
Recommendation
Costco membership growth 'robust,' even amid fee increase: What to know about earnings release
Buck Showalter makes Baltimore return amid Mets' mess: 'Game will knock you to your knees'
Why is Jon Gruden at New Orleans Saints training camp? Head coach Dennis Allen explains
Family of inmate who was eaten alive by bedbugs in Georgia jail reaches settlement with county
Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
Jeremy Allen White Kisses Ashley Moore Amid Addison Timlin Divorce
Chaos erupts in New York City after promise of free PlayStations
Cost of federal census recounts push growing towns to do it themselves