'It means we are appreciated' (church, catholic, Jewish, Zen)

[Djamila]

The New Temple Synagogue in Sarajevo was, at one time, one of the most beautiful religious buildings in the city.

Then, following the Second World War and until very recently, it looked like this. Still nice, of course, but not nearly as impressive:

Now, it's being restored to its original condition. This is how it looks this week. The entire facade of the Synagogue has been repaired and repainted, and now they're preparing the gold domes. Although several buildings have had gold domes during Sarajevo's history, once the Synagogue is fully restored it will be, in this day and age, the only gold-domed building in the whole of Bosnia and Herzegovina:

"That this project is being funded entirely through donations from citizens of Sarajevo is very powerful. It means we are appreciated, and it means that Bosnians of all religious backgrounds value the cultural and religious heritage of their fellow citizens."
- Jakov Finci, President of the Jewish Congress of Bosnia

Also in the works is the reconstruction of Sarajevo's Grand Sephardic Temple. It was dynamited during the Second World War and a Roman Catholic Church built in its place. That Church was destroyed during the siege of Sarajevo in 1994 and, after a lengthy court battle, the Jewish community has won the rights to the site and are free to do with it as they choose. Their intentions, as of now, are to rebuild the Grand Temple:

It's going to be a busy few Jewish years in Sarajevo! Hehehe.