WMF recently awarded funding to the Keneseth Eliyahoo Syngagogue through our Jewish Heritage Program. This support will enable the creation of a comprehensive conservation plan for the synagogue, addressing structural and architectural integrity as well as the restoration of historic finishes and stained glass. (...)
WMF recently awarded funding to the Keneseth Eliyahoo Syngagogue through our Jewish Heritage Program. This support will enable the creation of a comprehensive conservation plan for the synagogue, addressing structural and architectural integrity as well as the restoration of historic finishes and stained glass. The plan will include archival research, a survey of the building to diagnose its problems, recommendations for conservation treatments, and cost estimates for a larger, phased restoration project. The plan will also address structural repair and strengthening of the terrace, roof, and balconies. It will also note past repairs that have detracted from the material integrity of the synagogue, such as the addition of cement plastering over the historic lime plasters, oil painting on the exterior façade, and replacement of the original floor finishes with ceramic tiles. The air-conditioning units and electrical wiring, which were added later as the structure did not originally have electricity, should be relocated, and there is a need for appropriate signage and interpretation of the site. This work is currently underway and will be completed in the next several years.
