Envision a space, now marked by the Synagogenmonument, once filled with the vibrant life of Hamburg’s Jewish community. This is not just a place. It is a testament to resilience. The Synagogenmonument stands as a poignant reminder of the Bornplatz Synagogue.
The Bornplatz Synagogue was more than a building. It was a symbol. Inaugurated on September 13th 1906, it was the first Hamburg synagogue built visibly and free-standing on a square. Architects Ernst Friedheim and Semmy Engel designed it in neo-Romanesque style. Round arches met Gothic rosettes. The simple exterior design reflected precursors of modernism. The community wanted to express its belonging to Germany. They claimed equal rights as citizens.
A gilded Star of David crowned the brown-colored dome. It rose 39 meters high. It was visible from afar. Next to the Synagogenmonument stood a community center. It housed administrative rooms and a weekday synagogue. A mikveh offered ritual immersion. Reading and study rooms provided space for learning.
But the winds of change brought destruction. On November 9th 1938, the Gestapo ordered actions against Jews. Synagogues became targets. The next morning flames engulfed the Bornplatz Synagogue. Windows shattered. Fires raged. Rioters desecrated Torah scrolls. Religious objects were destroyed. The fire department reported a small fire. It was almost 16 hours after the blaze began.
The Jewish community was forced to return the property. They bore the costs of demolishing the damaged Synagogenmonument. After 1945, injustice persisted. Officials undervalued the land calling it rubble. The university used the space.
In 1949, Holocaust survivors reclaimed the property. But the tax authority negotiated with the Jewish Trust Corporation. A government official involved in forced sales during the Nazi era handled negotiations. The city stated that the Reichsstatthalter ordered the demolition. In 1953, the city and the JTC reached a settlement. The city acquired 150 Jewish properties at below-market value.
Today, the square is a memorial site. A floor mosaic by Margit Kahl depicts the synagogue’s floor plan. The Synagogenmonument is made of gray stones. The square is now Joseph-Carlebach-Platz. A memorial plaque reads: May the future save descendants from injustice.
Since 2004, another plaque provides historical information about the Synagogenmonument. In 2019, a public debate arose about rebuilding the synagogue. The Initiative Nein zu Antisemitismus. Ja zur Bornplatzsyagoge gathered over 100000 signatures. A feasibility study in 2022 supported rebuilding.
Excavations in 2023 uncovered the synagogue’s foundation. They secured evidence of Jewish life. Funds were approved for an architectural competition in 2024. Daniel Scheffer founded the Initiative for the Reconstruction of the Bornplatz Synagogue. He discovered the Crown of the Bornplatz Synagogue. It was a Torah scroll adornment from the former synagogue. It survived the Reichspogrom Night.
Scheffer wanted to save the crown for the community. He acquired the Nazi loot. This injustice led to the campaign No to Anti-Semitism. Yes to the Bornplatz Synagogue. The campaign received widespread support. The reconstruction of the Synagogenmonument symbolizes a tangible Jewish future in Hamburg. A foundation anchors the future of the Bornplatz Synagogue. It promotes construction and communication.
The Synagogenmonument stands as a powerful symbol. It embodies remembrance. It signifies a commitment to a future free from hate. It is a place of reflection. The Synagogenmonument honors the past. It inspires hope.