THE PROGRAM

01 / WHY

One of the most rare and significant findings of Jewish archaeology was discovered in Aegina island in the 19th century: a mosaic with rich geometric patterns and two Greek inscriptions that identify the mosaic floor as to belonging to a 4th century CE synagogue. 

The mosaic is at a dangerous state of damage and neglect and requires urgent preservation and protection.

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The mosaic is mostly damaged. Maintenance operations were carried out in 1989. The situation is made worse due to its proximity to the sea and its exposure to environmental conditions.

The planned works aim to repair the damage, to protect it. Your support of this program is urgent and much needed!

The team of Yvette Nahmia Messinas and Dr. Elias Messinas, in cooperation with the Eforate of Antiquity of Piraeus and the Islands of the Ministry of Culture and Sports, and NGO ECOWEEK, have departed on a program for the preservation of the mosaic of Aegina ancient synagogue. The program started in 2018 and is scheduled to be completed in 2020.

Join the Friends of the Mosaic Floor of the Aegina Synagogue to help support the preservation of the mosaic for future generations!

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02 / WHERE

Aegina: an island in the Saronic sea known for its pistachio. An hour-boat ride from Pireas, the 15,000-residents island attracts more than 70,000 visitors in the summer months and holidays. The island is also known for artists, intellectuals and authors, who have made Aegina their second home - like the author of 'Zorba the Greek' classic Nikos Kazatzakis whose house in Plakakia is still standing. 

One of the most popular sites on the island, one that greets the visitors on their way from the port of Aegina, is the site of Kolona and the Archeological Museum with rare treasures.

One of these treasures, is the mosaic found across the Museum behind Avra hotel. 

The mosaic was discovered by the German archaeologist Ludwig Ross in 1829. It belonged to a synagogue dating from the c. 4th CE, and was adorned with geometric patterns and two inscriptions in Greek.

In 1932, archaeologists F.G. Welter and B. Mazur discovered the apse on the east wall, where according to tradition, the Torah scrolls were kept during service.

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Monuments such as the mosaic enrich the local history and culture and attract tourism which supports the local economy.

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03 / WHO

Yvette Nahmia Messinas Greek-born  spends her summers in Aegina since childhood. Yvette holds a Masters in Jewish Civilization from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and blogs in the Jerusalem Post and in her blog From Jerusalem with Love. 

Dr. Elias Messinas, Greek-born architect, holds a degree from Yale and a Ph.D. from the Athens Polytechnic on the History and Architecture of the Synagogues of Greece. Elias has designed a number of private houses in Aegina, and has initiated a waste recycling program with the Municipality. With his team he renovated the Monastirioton and Yad Lezikaron synagogues in Thessaloniki, and Yavanim synagogue in Trikala, and in 1995 completed a study of the synagogue in Veroia funded by the Getty Grant Program. Elias' books include The synagogues of Salonika and Veroia (Gavrielides Editions, Athens) and The Synagogues of Greece (Bloch Publishing Co., New York). Elias' website

Elias and Yvette have initiated programs in the past, including the creation of friendship park Athens 2004  in Israel, and NGO ECOWEEK.

The team of the Eforate of Antiquities of Piraeus and Islands of the Ministry of Culture and Sports.

NGO ECOWEEK www.ecoweek.org
 

HOW CAN I HELP

CAMPAIGN

In 2018, a campaign was launched to raise awareness and to collect the funds to protect the mosaic.

The campaign is led by Yvette Nahmia Messinas and architect Dr. Elias Messinas, in cooperation with the Eforate of Antiquities of Piraeus and the Islands of the Ministry of Culture and Sport.

An international community of Friends of the Mosaic Floor of the Aegina Synagogue was created to support this effort.

Friends like Elda, Leon, Annat, David and Zaklin, W Young and the Greek Community of Jerusalem care and help conserve, protect and preserve the mosaic for future generations!

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Thank you friends Leon and anonymous for your support of the second phase of the program, namely, the planning and permit phase for the protection of the mosaic. 

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Join us too!

BUDGET

Exhibition & Event : 3,000 EURO
Includes: Preliminary survey, preliminary study, drone video, exhibition curation and printing, graphics for program,  exhibition opening and website. Final cost.

Planning & Permit : 10,000 EURO
Includes: Architectural, Engineering and Permit process. Also research to support publication and professional video on the mosaic. Estimated cost.

Implementation : 100,000 EURO
Includes protective roof : 75,000 EURO, and additional works around the monument, such as structural, seating, signage : 15,000 EURO.

Opening inauguration event, to take place upon completion of the works. We also aim to create a small publication to guide visitors to the site: 10,000 EURO.

Estimated cost. Will be finalized upon receipt of building permits and final cost estimates.

Preservation works estimated at 30-35,000 EURO will be undertaken by the Eforate of Antiquities of Pireaus and the Islands.
 

CAMPAIGN UPDATE

PHASE #1: LAUNCH EXHIBITION & EVENT
received 3,000 EURO
of 3,000 EURO goal
supporters: 42
deadline: August 2019
Thank you for successfully completing this phase!

PHASE #2: PLANNING & PERMIT & RESEARCH
received 1,617 EURO
of 10,000 EURO estimated goal
supporters: 15
deadline: February 2020

PHASE #3: IMPLEMENTATION
received 00 EURO
received of 100,000 EURO estimated goal
supporters: 0
deadline: August 2020

GET IN TOUCH

aeginamosaic@ecoweek.org

PRESS

MEDIA & REFERENCES on the Mosaic of the Synagogue of Aegina

We thank our media partners and the press for spreading the word!

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• PHOTOGRAPHIC ALBUM event of 7/8/19

• VIDEO OF EXHIBITION OPENING EVENT ON 7/8/19 - courtesy of AEGINA PORTAL

• DRONE VIDEO about the mosaic - 07/19

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• ALEF H διατήρηση του ψηφιδωτού της Αρχαίας Συναγωγής της Αίγινας - φάση 2η 11/19 pp. 14-15

• WORLD JEWISH TRAVEL The exhibition on the Aegina Mosaic 09/19

• ERMIS Athens College Alumni Magazine To Ψηφιδωτό της Αίγινας (Τεύχος 68, σελ. 52) 09/19

• HELLENIC STUDIES CENTER Campaign to Save Rare Synagogue Mosaics on Aegina Island Greece 3/9/19

• ARCHAEOLOGY & ARTS Ancient Synagogue Mosaic Floor in Need of Conservation 30/8/19

• THE JEWISH CHRONICLE Greek bid to rescue ancient mosaic 30/8/19

• WORLD JEWISH CONGRESS A precious discovery in Greece: An ancient synagogue 29/8/19 video

• THE GREEK HERALD Campaign to save rare 1700-year-old Greek island synagogue mosaic 28/8/19

• DANILFINEMAN Campaigners bid to save lots of uncommon 1700-year-old Greek island synagogue mosaic 28/8/19

• GREEK REPORTER Campaign to Save Rare Synagogue Mosaics on Aegina Island, Greece 28/8/19

• TIMES OF ISRAEL Campaigners bid to save rare 1,700-year-old Greek island synagogue mosaic 28/8/19

• GREECE OUTSIDE IN Exhibition opening on the Mosaic of Aegina in Greek island near Athens​ 18/8/19

• TORNOS NEWS Exhibition opening on the Mosaic of Aegina in Greek island near Athens​ 18/8/19

• EUROPEAN JEWISH CONGRESS Race to preserve rare mosaic of ancient Greek synagogue​ 15/8/19

• JEWISH HERITAGE EUROPE Greece: Campaign underway to preserve & protect mosaic floor of 4th century CE synagogue on island of Aegina 14/8/19

• MOSAIC A Rare and Ancient Mosaic from a Greek Synagogue Goes on Display 14/8/19

• AGADE Race to Preserve Rare Mosaic of Ancient Greek Synagogue 13/8/19

• SCOOP NEST Race to Preserve Rare Mosaic of Ancient Greek Synagogue 13/8/19

• JERUSALEM POST Race to Preserve Rare Mosaic of Ancient Greek Synagogue 13/8/19

• JERUSALEM POST The Mosaic of Aegina 13/8/19

• ΟΛΒΙΑ ΠΟΛΙΣ Έκθεση για το Πρόγραμμα Συντήρησης και Προστασίας του Ψηφιδωτού στην Αίγινα, υπό την αιγίδα του Δήμου Αίγινας και της "Ολβιας" 12/8/19

• GREECE Race to preserve rare Mosaic of Ancient Greek Synagogue 12/8/19

• FROM JERUSALEM WITH LOVE Experience the event for the Mosaic floor 11/8/19

• SARONIC MAGAZINE Tα εγκαίνια της έκθεσης για το Ψηφιδωτό της Αίγινας 9/8/19

• EPIXEIRO Με μεγάλη επιτυχία πραγματοποιήθηκαν τα εγκαίνια τις έκθεσης για το ψηφιδωτό της Αίγινας 9/8/19

• KIS Eκδήλωση στην Αίγινα για τα Εγκαίνια Έκθεσης για το Ψηφιδωτό της Αίγινας 8/8/19

• TO PARON THS KYRIAKHS To ψηφιδωτό της Αίγινας 8/8/19

• AEGINA PORTAL Eκδήλωση για την Προστασία του Ψηφιδωτού στο Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο Αίγινας 7/8/19 incl. video of lectures

• SKAI RADIO Interview with Elena Papadimitriou 4/8/19 at 16:00

• ΚΟΙΝΩΝΙΚΗ Στις 7 Αυγούστου η έκθεση για την Προστασία ψηφιδωτού σε εβραϊκή συναγωγή στην Αίγινα 4/8/19

• THE WORLD NEWS Αρχαία Συναγωγή στην Αίγινα: Διατήρηση και ανάδειξη του ψηφιδωτού (ΒΙΝΤΕΟ) 2/8/19

• IEFIMERIDA Στις 7 Αυγούστου η έκθεση για την Προστασία ψηφιδωτού σε εβραϊκή συναγωγή στην Αίγινα 2/8/19

• KATHIMERINH Έκθεση για το Πρόγραμμα Συντήρησης και Προστασίας του Ψηφιδωτού στην Αίγινα 2/8/19

• SUPER B Aίγινα: Eκθεση για την Προστασία του Ψηφιδωτού σε Εβραϊκή Συναγωγή 2/8/19

• AGGREGATOR Στις 7 Αυγούστου η έκθεση για την Προστασία ψηφιδωτού σε εβραϊκή συναγωγή στην Αίγινα 2/8/19

• GALATZ RADIO Interview with Shimon Parnas 2/8/19 (36:11-45:37)

• LOVE GREECE Mosaic Conservation and Protection Program in Aegina 1/8/19

• LOVE GREECE Πρόγραμμα Συντήρησης και Προστασίας του Ψηφιδωτού στην Αίγινα 1/8/19

• iNEWS GR Έκθεση για το Πρόγραμμα Συντήρησης και Προστασίας του Ψηφιδωτού στην Αίγινα 31/7/19

• EΠΙΧΕΙΡΩ Έκθεση για το Πρόγραμμα Συντήρησης και Προστασίας του Ψηφιδωτού στην Αίγινα 31/7/19

• AEGINA PORTAL Εκδήλωση για την Προστασία του Ψηφιδωτού της Συναγωγής της Αίγινας στο Αρχαιολογικό Μουσείο 30/7/19

• SARONIC MAGAZINE Γιατί να Υποστηρίξουμε τη Διατήρηση του Ψηφιδωτού Δαπέδου της Αρχαίας Συναγωγής στην Αίγινα  24/7/19

• FROM JERUSALEM WITH LOVE 15/7/19

• RADIO 1 Interview with Yaron Enosh 5/7/19

• GEGONOS.NET H Αρχαία Συναγωγή στην Αίγινα: Διατήρηση και Ανάδειξη του Ψηφιδωτού της Συναγωγής 07/19 

• EL Εργασίες συντήρησης στην Αρχαία Συναγωγή στην Αίγινα 15/5/19

• ZOUGLA.GR  H Αρχαία Συναγωγή στην Αίγινα: Διατήρηση και Ανάδειξη του Ψηφιδωτού της Συναγωγής 14/5/19

• ALEF H Αρχαία Συναγωγή στην Αίγινα 04/19 pp. 24-25

• TRIPADVISOR Museum of Aigina, mosaic floor of Synagogue

• WIKIPEDIA Mosaic Floor of a Jewish Synagogue in Greece - 300 CE