Perhaps you noticed the inscription above the entrance. This is the Philanthropin. It means place of humanity in Greek. This building has a rich history. It is intertwined with Frankfurt’s Jewish community.
The Philanthropin was founded in 1804. It started as a non-fee-paying school. Reform-oriented Jewish circles established it. It is Germany’s oldest existing Jewish school. The curriculum focused on moral education. The Philanthropin became a significant Jewish Reform project. This was especially true in the early 19th century.
Mayer Amschel Rothschild supported the school. His chief accountant Siegmund Geisenheimer formally established it. The government also provided financial support. From the beginning non-Jewish pupils could attend.
The school’s motto was for enlightenment and humanity. The Philanthropin became a center for liberal Judaism. Many teachers actively participated in the Jewish reform movement.
In the late 19th century, the school faced economic challenges. Jewish parents increasingly chose non-religious public schools. The Jewish community spent over half its budget on the school.
The current building was erected in 1908. Otto Driesen led the school during a golden era in the Weimar Republic. Pupil numbers peaked at around 1000. The high school closed in April 1941. The elementary school had to close in June 1942.
From 1954 the building served as offices for the Jewish community. There was a failed proposal to reopen the school in 1966. In 1978 the Jewish community sold the building to the city. This sale financed a new Jewish community center. The city used the building as a public community center. Renovations took place during the 1980s.
From 1986 to 2004 the Hoch Conservatory was housed here. A theatre company also used the space. In 2006/2007, the I. E. Lichtigfeld-Schule moved here. This Jewish school was founded in 1966. Today, it is commonly known as the Philanthropin.
Currently, the school has about 400 students. Approximately two-thirds have a Jewish background. The Philanthropin stands opposite the Musterschule. This is a well-known progressive gymnasium. It is located on the other side of Eckenheimer Landstraße.
After 1933, the Philanthropin faced increasing restrictions. It finally closed in 1942. The building then served various purposes. It was a military hospital and emergency accommodation. It also housed administrative offices.
A memorial plaque outside the Philanthropin tells its story. It highlights its role in Jewish community life. Rabbi Leopold Neuhaus and Cantor Nathan Saretzki held final services here. Pupils and teachers were deported and murdered.
The plaque also notes the building’s varied history. It mentions its time as a conservatory. Since October 2006, it has once again been a Jewish school. It is named after Rabbi Isaak Emil Lichtigfeld.
The Philanthropin stands as a testament. It symbolizes the endurance and renewal of Frankfurt’s Jewish community. It continues to educate and inspire future generations.