Here stands the Synagoge Offenbach am Main a testament to a community’s resilience. This house of worship has a long and complex history. Let’s step back in time to understand its significance.
In the early 17th century Jewish families fleeing persecution in Frankfurt found refuge in Offenbach. By 1707 they established an official community. They built a synagogue and created community regulations. These regulations governed taxation commerce and labor. A second “Judenstrasse” or Jew Street was established. This shows how important the Jewish community was becoming in Offenbach.
The Synagoge Offenbach am Main became a central part of Jewish life here. By the 19th century the Jewish population remained stable at about 1000 people. However by 1910 it peaked at 2361. This shows a thriving community.
Between 1913 and 1916 the community built a grand domed Synagoge Offenbach am Main. It could seat 800 people. This Synagoge Offenbach am Main symbolized the Jewish community’s success. They were successful in local industries such as leather and textiles.
But the rise of Nazism brought tragedy. In October 1936 large numbers of Polish Jews were expelled. On November 10 1938 the Synagoge Offenbach am Main was burned down. This happened during the infamous Kristallnacht. The mob attacked the community’s rabbi Dr. Max Dienemann and imprisoned him.
Of the 554 Jews remaining in 1939 205 were deported in October 1942. The rest soon followed. They were mostly sent to Theresienstadt and Auschwitz. Approximately 400 Offenbach Jews perished in the Shoah.
After the war seven former inhabitants returned and rebuilt the community. In 1956 a new Synagoge Offenbach am Main was consecrated. However even in this period of rebuilding there were setbacks. 70 tombstones were desecrated in June 1956.
Despite these challenges the Jewish community persevered. By 1970 there were 662 Jews living in Offenbach. Today the Jewish community numbers over 900. Many are immigrants from the former Soviet Union.
In 1997 a new community center opened. The synagogue built in 1956 is integrated into this center. The Synagoge Offenbach am Main continues to serve as a beacon of faith and community.
The original synagogue building now serves as a theater. A commemorative plaque marks its history. It reminds us of the vibrant Jewish community that once thrived here. The Synagoge Offenbach am Main stands as a symbol of resilience remembrance and hope. It shows how a community can rebuild even after immense loss.