Jewish cultural heritage preservation

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 14477 | 23 January 2018

Signatories:

Ms Angela SMITH, United Kingdom, SOC ; Lord Donald ANDERSON, United Kingdom, SOC ; Lord Richard BALFE, United Kingdom, EC ; Ms Hannah BARDELL, United Kingdom, NR ; Mr Vlad BATRINCEA, Republic of Moldova, SOC ; Mr Ervin BUSHATI, Albania, SOC ; Mr Liam BYRNE, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr José CEPEDA, Spain, SOC ; Ms Tamar CHUGOSHVILI, Georgia, SOC ; Mr Boriss CILEVIČS, Latvia, SOC ; Mr Vernon COAKER, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Titus CORLĂŢEAN, Romania, SOC ; Ms Stella CREASY, United Kingdom, SOC ; Ms Vanessa D'AMBROSIO, San Marino, SOC ; Mr Nigel EVANS, United Kingdom, EC ; Lord George FOULKES, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Pierre-Alain FRIDEZ, Switzerland, SOC ; Dame Cheryl GILLAN, United Kingdom, EC ; Mr Domagoj HAJDUKOVIĆ, Croatia, SOC ; Ms Susanna HUOVINEN, Finland, SOC ; Ms Susan Elan JONES, United Kingdom, SOC ; Ms Sofio KATSARAVA, Georgia, SOC ; Mr Zviad KVATCHANTIRADZE, Georgia, SOC ; Mr Saša MAGAZINOVIĆ, Bosnia and Herzegovina, SOC ; Baroness Doreen MASSEY, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Georgios MAVROTAS, Greece, SOC ; Ms Kerry McCARTHY, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Conor McGINN, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Víctor NAUDI ZAMORA, Andorra, SOC ; Ms Sanja PAVIĆEVIĆ, Montenegro, SOC ; Lord Simon RUSSELL, United Kingdom, EC ; Mr Stefan SCHENNACH, Austria, SOC ; Mr Predrag SEKULIĆ, Montenegro, SOC ; Mr Virendra SHARMA, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Jan ŠKOBERNE, Slovenia, SOC ; Ms Klodiana SPAHIU, Albania, SOC ; Mr Manuel TORNARE, Switzerland, SOC ; Lord Don TOUHIG, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Evangelos VENIZELOS, Greece, SOC ; Mr Martin WHITFIELD, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Phil WILSON, United Kingdom, SOC

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

The story of the 20th century in Europe has been one of transitions including massive, and often tragic, population loss and displacement with many historic buildings losing their communities of users.

An unprecedented project mapping historic synagogues right across Europe has recently been undertaken by the Foundation for Jewish Heritage. This work revealed that a number of these unique and architecturally significant buildings are vulnerable and, in places, close to collapse. Many of them represent the final testament to a rich cultural and historical legacy which, if they are allowed to disappear, will be lost forever.

Jewish cultural heritage is integral to wider European culture and should be saved. With the special focus on heritage in 2018 with the launch of the European Year of Cultural Heritage, the Parliamentary Assembly should initiate an inquiry into the present situation regarding Jewish built heritage in Europe and to produce a report on its findings.

Such a report would be unprecedented and should provide up to date information and, where appropriate, make recommendations to member States and to the wider cultural heritage sector on what further steps could and should be taken to ensure that this heritage is preserved.