Programme Patrimoine juif, France

The Fondation du Patrimoine is a French nonprofit organization dedicated to safeguarding and promoting important heritage sites throughout the country. With the support of the Edmond J. Safra Foundation, it has expanded its national religious heritage program to include a dedicated initiative for the restoration of synagogues and other Jewish heritage sites in France.

This landmark program preserves an essential yet often overlooked part of France’s cultural and religious history, recognizing the deep-rooted presence of Jewish communities across the country. The involvement of the Edmond J. Safra Foundation continues a long-standing commitment to the French Jewish community, reflecting the personal engagement of Edmond and Lily Safra.

The first site to benefit is the Great Synagogue of Metz, a listed historic monument symbolic of more than a millennium of Jewish life in the region. The restoration included the façade, steps, interior spaces, and key decorative elements, preserving the Synagogue and reaffirming its place in France’s living Jewish heritage.