Transformation of Heritage, Heritage of Transformation. Synagogue Buildings in Contemporary Poland and the Legacy of Post-Socialist Transitions

• Applicants: Privatdozent Dr.-Ing. Ulrich Knufinke; Professorin Dr. Ruth Leiserowitz
• Subject Area: Architecture, Building and Construction History, Construction Research, Sustainable Building Technology ; Modern and Contemporary History ; Religious Studies and Jewish Studies
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 557821604

The aim of the project is to examine the current impact of legal frameworks and transformations on the treatment of Jewish cultural heritage in Central and Eastern Europe that took place in the period following 1989. This was determined by the legal changes triggered by political transformation, the pursuit of transitional justice, and international developments such as the European unification and the juridification of cultural heritage. These factors continue to exert an influence on the manner in which institutions and individuals engage with former Jewish edifices and cultural assets. The project's primary focus is on Poland, where these issues remain a subject of intense debate. This is also applicable to the western and northern regions of the country, which were previously under the governance of the German Reich. In these regions, which were affected by displacement and border changes after 1945, the heritage of the predominantly German-speaking Jews was marginalized. Nevertheless, it is now being managed and altered by Jewish and non-Jewish institutions. Moreover, the processes under investigation are particularly evident in this region of historical German-Polish-Jewish contact. The project examines the current institutional and private treatment of former synagogues in Poland, taking into account the legal framework, and at the same time undertakes a historical analysis of this treatment in the post-communist era. A principal objective is to investigate the processes of heritagization of former synagogues in the context of the establishment of new regulations and laws after 1989. These continue to exert a pivotal influence on restoring and reusing built Jewish heritage. In particular, the return of property to Jewish communities, which was codified in 1997 and has not yet been completed, and the resulting conflicts will be examined. The individuals and entities engaged in this process at various levels of governance and administration operated at the local, national, and transnational level. Methodologically the project is located at the nexus of critical heritage studies, heritage conservation theory, and political, legal, and transformative history. The research aims to examine the multifaceted interactions between the diverse stakeholders, both Jewish and non-Jewish, and to establish a coherent framework for analyzing the various discourses. Additionally, the objective is to ascertain potential avenues for the future usage of former synagogues and to formulate strategies for appropriation and revitalization endeavors. The project expands on the findings of the initial phase of the SPP 2357, during which the research group examined the historical and contemporary functions of extant synagogues in the Polish northern and western regions. This undertaking resulted in the formation of close collaborative relationships with Jewish partners and other local stakeholders, which serve as the foundation for the second phase of the project.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 2357: Jewish Cultural Heritage
• International Connection: Poland
• Co-Investigator: Professorin Dr. Ulrike Fauerbach
• Cooperation Partner: Dr. Eleonora Bergman