“We want to forget, yet the past is too embedded in us,
and won’t let us forget”

When we prepared this list, we thought about our parents and we hoped to remember their deeds, even if in a modest way. We wished to recall the great achievements of German Jewry and the hatred of the ones who destroyed it by burning books, synagogues, and in the end – people.

Throughout the centuries Jewish community life was an integral part of German culture. This “Ashkenaz Jewry” was suddenly annihilated on “Pogromnacht”, the night between the 9^th and the 10^th of November, 1938.

At the beginning of the 20^th century there were – according to our count, ca. 2,800 synagogues in Germany (including Austria and “Sudeten-Deutschland” [today in the Czech Republic], Western and Eastern Prussia [today partly Russia] and Silesia [today Poland] ) At the end of 1938 – as a result of the “Pogromnacht”, the vast majority of these synagogues were either partly or completely destroyed.

Synagogues are buildings that were either purpose-built or converted to serve this function. Betstube refers to rooms in which a Minyan, a quorum of ten religiously mature men, prayed. These rooms were located in rented premises, private homes, orphanages, schools, hospitals, old people’s homes, etc. The Betstuben were not built as actual synagogues, and hence we do not have any architectural records of them, but for those who prayed in them, the Betstube served as a second home, a place to teach and to be taught. Jewish libraries were often also located in these premises.

We looked for mute witnesses – for pictures and reports. It was relatively easy to find material on the larger synagogues, especially if they were noticeable architectural structures. In many cases, pictures of the ruins left after the destruction survived. In some cases, too, we have pictures of the actual burning. However, in the case of the smaller, mostly rural communities, the search was much more difficult.

Until a century ago, most European Jews were “Torahtreu”, (faithful to the Torah), i.e. they followed the orthodox tradition. This changed in the 20^th century, so much so that in 1933, 80-85% of the Jewish communities followed a liberal alignment. (However, the synagogues do not reflect this: 90-95% of these were of the orthodox persuasion). The buildings of synagogues of the liberal stream can usually be distinguished by their large and more flamboyant architectural dimensions.

In our research, we do not distinguish between orthodox and liberal synagogues. Every community where “Shma Yisrael” (“Listen oh Israel, G-d is one”) was prayed, found its’ way onto our list.

Almost every community had a Mikwe (ritual bath). We only listed those whose existence can be proved. The same is true for Jewish schools, which were often the first facilities built by the community, even before the synagogue. Jewish schools ensured the continued existence of Judaism.

As far as the areas of former Silesia, East Prussia and Pommern are concerned, our material is sparse, especially regarding pictures. The same is true for the communities of former Sudetenland (ca. 85 communities). Twenty-six synagogues were destroyed in this region on “Pogromnacht” and no Jewish communities continued to be active in this region by the end of 1938.

This brochure contains a provisional list of all synagogues existing within the borders of Germany (including the former Ostgebiete ) until 1938. It is part of our project on “Synagogen-Gedenkbuecher Deutschlands” (Synagogue Memorial Books, Germany) in which – according to Bundeslaender the history of all synagogues and communities will be described.

The following volumes have already been published:

Northrhine-Westfalia, including the 410 synagogues and Betstuben found there prior to 1938 (Feuer an Dein Heiligtum gelegt. Zerstoerte Synagogen 1938 Nordrhein-Westfalen, Bochum, 1999).

Rheinland-Palatinate-Saar, published in cooperation with the Landesamt fuer Denkmalpflege Mainz.

A two-volume set “Synagogen in Baden-Wuertemberg” in cooperation with the

Landesbibliothek, Karlsruhe

Mehr Als Steine…Synagogen-Gedenkband Bayern” Band I is being prepared in cooperation with the University of Erlangen.

The volume on Austria is ready for printing

Hesse is in an advanced stage of preparation, as is the volume on the communities of Bavaria.

The list is to be regarded as incomplete. We would like to appeal to you to submit supplemental information and corrections, which will be taken into consideration in further publications.

This work is a coordinated effort by:

Benjamin Rosendahl

Katja Vehlow

Deborah Hager

Zusanna Yanko

Johannes Kempin

And recently of Elisheva Shirion

And Daniel Poensgen

Professor Dr. Meier Schwarz

Jerusalem, March, 2008.

Supplemental information and corrections, as well as memorial articles, may be sent to the following address (House Ashkenaz):

Synagogue Memorial

58 King George Street

Jerusalem 91073

Tel: 972-2-6233225

Fax: 972-2 6233226

e-mail: synagogue@netvision.net.il

We have succeeded in documenting many of the areas with the assistance of the German authorities (Bundeslaender), such as Bavaria. Part of our ongoing research has been published in German (five books to date) and we have now decided to summarise the material in English and to publish in time for the 60th anniversary of Kristallnacht. This will be a memorial for our families and descendants. Each synagogue and community will be described briefly, where a larger community will require a full page, and the smaller ones one-third to one-half a page, including pictures.

In order to publish this Memorial Book of our forfathers we would be happy to receive information in English, concerning the communities from where your families originated in Greater Germany. The text should cover the following information, in an interesting and readable style:

The dates of inception of the community, it's size, activities surrounding the community, such as schools, mikve, cemetry etc. We would like to hear of any special activities known to you and of personalities connected with the community. Also the fate of the community during Kristallnacht and its' aftermath. Include information if there is a commemorative plaque.

Our editor will colate the material for publication. We will also be happy to receive clear pictures with the text, with permission to publish. The author will be mentioned by name.