I think that this TWHS should be deleted or changed at least. Otherwise I do not fully understand the strategy of the state party of Germany.

There are 3 active sites on the German TWHS related directly to former Jewish communities: (1) Synagogue in Erfurt as one of the oldest, largest and best preserved synagogues in Central Europe, (2) ShUM as the important community of Ashkenazi Jews with origin deeply in Middle Ages, and (3) the cemetery in Altona as the second largest Sephardic cemetery outside Portugal.

It is not likely that all three sites will be inscribed, and I can see certain rivalry between Erfurt and ShUM: The ShUM nomination has been already submitted for year 2021, and it is cleverly stated there that “The lasting influence of the ShUM communities on Ashkenazi Judaism is attested to this day by major monuments – e.g. the excellently preserved religious buildings (the synagogue and the ritual bath) in Erfurt and the mediaeval Jewish monuments in Regensburg, Vienna and Andernach.”

The justification of the Altona cemetery plays a different game stressing not Ashkenazi but its Sephardic character.

I am afraid that these are only political games, and interest about the genuine OUV lies aside, and it is somehow hidden in the elaborated phrases. All it is about the fact, that there is only one WHS in Europe focused (almost) only on the Jewish testimony – Třebíč. The rest Jewish monuments are parts of much bigger urban ensembles, as seen in Prague, Cracow, Ferrara, Bardějov, etc. - that make sense to me.

This TWHS consists of three structures located close to each other in the very center of otherwise very beautiful Erfurt: (i) the synagogue which was closed during time of my visit, but even from outside one can partly read the history of the building with visible parts dating to 1270 and 1300 (PHOTO).

(ii) During very recent excavation, the mikveh of unusual size and structure was found close to the Kramerbrucke Bridge, and I could spot it through the window.

(iii) The last part is the stone house with fine details from around 1250 on Benedictsplatz 1 (I could not enter and see it), which was apparently owned by Jewish community in middle ages, taht is arguable and this is the weakest part of the nomination if this really contributes to OUV.

Based on my search on internet, there are about 20 medieval synagogues (sometimes also with the mikweh) in Europe: in Portugal (Tomar), Spain (Cordoba, 2x Toledo, Hijar, Barcelona), France (2x Avignon), Germany (Erfurt + ShUM), Austria (Korneuburg), Czechia (Prague), Slovenia (Maribor), Italy (Ferrara, Trani), Croatia (Dubrovnik), Hungary (Buda), Poland (Cracow), and Belarus (Hrodna). From this list, I saw/visited medieval synagogues in Ferrara, Trani, Sopron, Worms, Speyer, Erfurt, Prague, and the old mikweh in Montpellier. I also visited a lot of synagogues from later periods: such as around 10 (!) synagogues in Prague, and many others in Czechia, including Třebíč, Pilsen, etc., and also the small Jewish quarter with synagogue in Pitigliano in Tuscany, and I am sure I forgot some places… My favorite is the old new synagogue in Prague, which is perfectly preseved, still in use and built in the same time as the visible parts of the old synagogue in Erfurt.

It is evident, that the testimony of Jewish community is very complex and it is difficult to separate it from the context of other cultures. Thus, I cannot see any OUV in the single synagogue in Erfurt. The building itself is very old but certainly not unique as it has been built in standard medieval style found elsevere in Europe.

The chances of ShUM are much higher – I am planning to visit all the ShUM components again, because I have not yet seen the cemetery in Mainz. I will not be surprised also in the case of success of Altona cemetery, but my guess is it will be submitted as a serial nomination with other related sites all over the world.