Ukrainian experts have digitized the synagogues of Bukovina

The Skeiron team has completed a project to 3D-digitize three synagogues in Chernivtsi region, which are unique bearers of Jewish wall painting traditions.

The specialists at Skeiron used laser 3D scanning to capture the interiors and exteriors of the buildings. After processing the data, digital models were published in open access, allowing them to be explored on the Sketchfab platform.

"In times of armed conflict, when cultural heritage sites are under threat of destruction, laser 3D scanning methods serve as an invaluable tool for detailed documentation of architectural heritage." Skeiron writes.

The project includes:

• The active synagogue Beit-Tfila Benyamin (Chernivtsi, 1923).
• The former Orthodox synagogue Groise Shil (Chernivtsi, 1854).
• The synagogue in Novoselitsa (1919).

"Today, only a few synagogues with wall paintings remain in Ukraine, each of which is a valuable source of information about the religious and social aspects of Jewish life in the past. These buildings are important objects for scientific research and require preservation. Laser 3D scanning allows for the precise documentation of mural details, which not only contributes to the creation of a documentary database for current study but also lays the groundwork for future restoration," Skeiron writes.

The initiative was supported by the Ukraine Art Aid Centre, commissioned by the Chernivtsi Museum of the History and Culture of the Jews of Bukovina.