Leicester Hebrew congregation has received almost £82,000 initial support from the Heritage lottery fund for its £1.2 million sharing Jewish heritage project.
The aim is to preserve and celebrate the Jewish history of the city where the orthodox synagogue building has been used for worship and education purposes since 1897.
Its school rooms will be transformed into a visitors centre, reflecting the high demand for tours, and particularly from schools. It attracts more than 2,500 visitors annually.
Renovated spaces will support activities including research sessions and heritage days. New displays will showcase the community’s history and artefacts.
The development funding will help the shool to progress plans to apply for the full grants at a later date.
Leicester Hebrew congregation chair Gary Kramer expressed his pleasure that the lottery fund that the synagogues vision.
“Education and personal learning is valued highly within Judaism,” he pointed out. “The development of an educational sweet will provide more than just a taster for our faith.”
Project administrator Sandra Cohen said: “The synagogue is an historic and very beautiful building which impresses everybody who visits.
“This project is particularly important because it will help promote a greater understanding of Judaism in the multicultural city of Leicester,” she added.
I am interested in hearing about the content of a full history of the Jewish communities in Leicester City, County and members from surrounding counties