The entanglement of things: perceptions of the sacred in musealised synagogue space

Abstract

Across Europe, Jewish museums are housed in former synagogues, representing Jewish religious life through exhibits of ceremonial collections. Besides the absences of active communities of users and liturgical practices, the multi-layered meaning of these spaces and objects contribute to these narrative environments’ ambiguity. Based on an interdisciplinary review of literature in the fields of Jewish studies, material religion studies and museum and heritage studies, this article proposes three sensitising concepts as a tool to further explore the religion-heritage entanglement at these sites: (1) practices of sacralisation, (2) practices of transformation, and (3) practices of representation.