University of Jewish Studies Heidelberg restitutes books to Budapest University of Jewish Studies

The University of Jewish Studies Heidelberg has handed over four rare prints dating back to the 16th century to the Budapest University of Jewish Studies.

27. April 2023

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German Lost Art Foundation

Humboldtstr. 12
39112 Magdeburg

Germany
Phone:  +49 (0) 391 727 763 0
E-mail:  kontakt@kulturgutverluste.de
Social:

German Lost Art Foundation Berlin Branch Office

Seydelstr. 18
10117 Berlin

Berlin
Phone: +49 (0) 391 727 763 0
E-mail: kontakt@kulturgutverluste.de

The Help Desk offers advice and assistance to victims of the Nazi regime and their descendants on questions relating to Nazi theft of cultural property. Serving as a central and initial low-threshold point of contact in Germany, it is aimed in particular at people whose place of residence is outside Germany and who are unfamiliar with German procedures, especially in connection with cultural federalism. The Help Desk seeks to provide support in taking initial steps as well as providing further contacts and information. We will also be happy to help initiate discussions with museums and other institutions.

German Lost Art Foundation, Branch Office
Dr. Susanne Meyer-Abich
Head of Help Desk

Seydelstr. 18
10117 Berlin

Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 391 727 763 0
E-mail: helpdesk@kulturgutverluste.de

The books identified as Nazi-looted property – an edition of the Talmud, two Mishneh Torah books by Maimonides and a Sefer Mekor Chaim – were handed over to guests from Budapest at an evening event on 26 April 2023.

Since the founding of the University of Jewish Studies Heidelberg, one of its key objectives has been to rapidly establish a library that is as comprehensive as possible. This has also included books of unclear or questionable provenance. Research into these has been ongoing since 2019, with funding sources including the German Lost Art Foundation.

The four works will be returned to the oldest rabbinical school in the world still in existence, where they will be integrated in the collection of one of the most important Judaic libraries. The restitution will be accompanied by an exhibition of the books in Heidelberg.

More information on the project:

Link to the project

Link to University of Jewish Studies Heidelberg