Slovenia: Maribor Synagogue Becomes Independent Jewish Culture and Research Institute

Maribor, Slovenia. Medieval synagogue restored as museum and cultural center.
Photo courtesy of Kulturni Center Sinagoga Maribor.

I last wrote at length about the medieval synagogue of Maribor, Slovenia in September 2009. Ruth Ellen Gruber now reports the latest from Maribor on her blog Jewish Heritage Travel:

Maribor Synagogue Becomes Independent Jewish Culture and Research Institute; Calls for Participants in Arts Competition:

The medieval synagogue in Maribor, Slovenia, which was restored 10 years ago to become a culture center, was transformed last month into "an independent public institution serving as a museum and a cultural and research center dedicated to preserving the heritage of what was once a thriving Jewish community in Slovenia."

To celebrate both the 10th anniversary of the restoration and the new independent status of the institution, the Maribor Synagogue - the Center of Jewish Cultural Heritage has issued a call for artists to take part in an international competition called "Images of the Maribor Synagogue".

The synagogue is one of Slovenia's most important Jewish heritage sites and one of the oldest known synagogues in Europe.

Read more here.