The exhibition "Annihilated Heritage" was held at the Restoration & Renovation Exhibition and Conference at Hynes Auditorium in central Boston. Our booth was one of the most well attended at the event. The exhibition was conducted by Marek Baranski from the Association for the Conservation of Historic Monuments in Poland PKZ-ZAMEK who flew in from Warsaw, Witold Karwowski American APT (Association of Preservation Technology International) representative from New York, and Mr. James Zan Westering also from APT. Marek Lesniewski-Laas, Honorary Consul of The Republic of Poland was also in attendance and participated in the presentations. "Gallery talks" were conducted daily in the afternoon, and the Video "The Zabludow Wooden Synagogue" produced by Tilford Bartman was available for viewing.

The exhibition consisted primarily of wonderful old photos and very interesting pre World War II architectural drawings of 13 wooden Synagogues that stood on Polish soil before World War II. All 185 Polish wooden synagogues were destroyed during the holocaust. The Zabludow Poland wooden Synagogue was highlighted, as it has been selected to be reconstructed as a full size replica at the Museum Podlasie Bialystoku in Bialystok Poland.The exhibition engendered some lively discussion. Amazement at the beauty of the structures, an appreciation of the skills that were necessary in their construction, as well as a profound sadness regarding the fact that none of the original structures remain were some of the thoughts and emotions most frequently expressed by visitors to the booth. Visitors also very enthusiastically endorsed the plan for reconstruction of the Zabudow Wooden Synagogue.

The exhibition will now go on the road to be seen at other venues in America. Below you can see some photos taken in Boston.

Click here to read the contents of the Brochure "Annihilated Heritage".

Tilford Bartman and Marek Baranski

Part of the Exhibition