Jewish life expanding in Germany
Increasing numbers of Jews in Germany rediscover their heritage; newly built, reconstructed or renovated synagogues make news every monthOliver Bradley, EJPress
Hardly a month passes in Germany without news of a newly built, reconstructed or renovated synagogue making the news – or of a new congregation being formed or, for the very least, getting recognition by the central Jewish community authorities.
Increasing numbers of Jews have been rediscovering their heritage and are not afraid of showing off this pride in public.
Fraternal lodges, social and cultural clubs and new religious congregations are sprouting up throughout the country.
Many of the new organizations are accommodating people who until now had not found the stream of Judaism that meets their specific spiritual needs within the existing structures.
New synagogues
The new demand has created a need to build new synagogues, resurrect destroyed ones and renovated those that are crumbling at their seems. It has also opened up the way for new congregations.
In the mid 90s, the reconstruction of the Dresden synagogue paved the way for a whole slew of Jewish community building projects.
Since then, dozens of buildings have been either reconstructed or rebuilt. Projects are underway for dozens more – from Berlin to Munich and Leipzig to Wuppertal.
In Magdeburg, the capital of the eastern German state of Saxon-Anhalt, a second Jewish community structure was incorporated in October because the existing community did not recognize the financial needs of liberal Jews there.
The Reform congregation has taken up residence in a villa, which includes a synagogue, which ironically still belongs to the central Jewish community there.
Igor Tokar, who heads the new congregation, is hopeful that his 50-member group will receive state subsidies in the near future, as does the established community.
Revived communities
Also in October, the Bavarian town of Floss celebrated the reopening of its newly refurbished synagogue. It took 5 years and half a million euros to renovate the structure, built in 1815.
At the inauguration, Bavarian interior minister Guenther Beckstein told the participants, “the synagogue is a symbol for the future. It is right wing radicalism that has no future here”.
The town of Floss is mostly known for the Flossenburg concentration camp, located nearby.
Another Bavarian city, Wuerzburg, a baroque jewel along the Main River is completing its 11,7 million euro community and cultural center - “Shalom Europe”.
700,000 euros are still missing to finish the structure. “These monies will be generated by private individuals,” Joseph Schuster, head of the local community told the Juedische Allgemeine newspaper.
Completion is expected in fall of 2006.
Wuerzburg was an important center of Jewish learning already back in the 10th century.
In mid-November, the cornerstone for a new 7 million euro synagogue and community center was laid in the West German industrial city of Bochum.
The groundbreaking ceremony was led by the Governor of the state of Northrhein-Westphalia as well as of leaders of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, including Paul Spiegel, its president.
The 100 year old, Rykestrasse Synagogue, in East Berlin, will finally undergo a long needed 3 million euros renovation. In the past years, only half of its 2000 seats could be used as the lady’s emporium threatens collapse.
Rykestrasse is the second largest synagogue in central Europe, after Budapest.
Article published by arrangement with European Jewish Press , a pan-European news agency based in Belgium
posted by jone @ 21:23
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