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The Jewish Community of Lechenich

Lechenich

A municipal district of the city of Erftstadt in the Rhein-Erft district in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

First Jewish presence: 13th century; peak Jewish population: 171 in 1895; Jewish population in 1933: 74

By the beginning of the 19th century, the community had established a prayer hall (one room for men, the other for women) and an adjoining mikveh at 43 Judengasse (or “Jews’ alley”). Later, in the 1880s, a larger synagogue—with 60 seats for men, 46 for women—was built at 10 Judenstrasse (“Jews’ street”). We also know that a branch of the Central Association of German Citizens of Jewish Faith and a Zionist group were established in Lechenich in 1893 and 1902, respectively. Lechenich’s wellrespected Jewish elementary school was destroyed during World War I; it was never rebuilt, for community membership declined steeply in the 1920s. Bismarck’s personal banker, an influential Jew named Gerson von Bleichroeder, purchased a castle in Lechenich for his retirement. On Pogrom Night (Nov. 9, 1938), as firemen protected the neighboring buildings, local police aided the SA in demolishing and burning the synagogue’s interior. The synagogue was later leveled, after which the site accommodated an air raid shelter. At least 34 Lechenich Jews perished in the Shoah. In memory of the community, a memorial plaque was erected at the site of the former Jewish school.

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This entry was originally published on Beit Ashkenaz - Destroyed German Synagogues and Communities website and contributed to the Database of the Museum of the Jewish People courtesy of Beit Ashkenaz.

Friesheim

A town in the Rhein-Erft district in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

First Jewish presence: unknown; peak Jewish population: 61 in 1861; Jewish population in 1933: 26

In 1665, three Jewish families lived in Friesheim. The synagogue association of Lechenich-Friesheim-Gymnich was formed in 1849, but each town maintained its status as an independent Jewish community. Records tell us that 60 Jews lived in Friesheim in 1872, when the town’s total population was 1,245. In Friesheim, prayer rooms were established in the Cahn and Hirsch family homes. The 19th-century community attended Sabbath services in Weilerswist until 1863, when a synagogue was inaugurated at 35 Niederweg (formerly 41 Niederweg). A Jewish cemetery was consecrated in Friesheim in the 1850s. On Pogrom Night (Nov. 9, 1938), the interior of the synagogue was destroyed, after which the building was torn down with the help of the volunteer fire brigade. Eighteen Jews still lived in Friesheim in 1939. Later, in July 1942, the town’s remaining Jews were deported to the Nazi concentration and death camps in Eastern Europe. At least 89 Friesheim Jews perished in the Shoah. At the synagogue site, now a yard, one can discern the outline of the former synagogue’s foundation. As of this writing, a memorial has not been erected there.

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This entry was originally published on Beit Ashkenaz - Destroyed German Synagogues and Communities website and contributed to the Database of the Museum of the Jewish People courtesy of Beit Ashkenaz.

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The Jewish Community of Lechenich

Lechenich

A municipal district of the city of Erftstadt in the Rhein-Erft district in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

First Jewish presence: 13th century; peak Jewish population: 171 in 1895; Jewish population in 1933: 74

By the beginning of the 19th century, the community had established a prayer hall (one room for men, the other for women) and an adjoining mikveh at 43 Judengasse (or “Jews’ alley”). Later, in the 1880s, a larger synagogue—with 60 seats for men, 46 for women—was built at 10 Judenstrasse (“Jews’ street”). We also know that a branch of the Central Association of German Citizens of Jewish Faith and a Zionist group were established in Lechenich in 1893 and 1902, respectively. Lechenich’s wellrespected Jewish elementary school was destroyed during World War I; it was never rebuilt, for community membership declined steeply in the 1920s. Bismarck’s personal banker, an influential Jew named Gerson von Bleichroeder, purchased a castle in Lechenich for his retirement. On Pogrom Night (Nov. 9, 1938), as firemen protected the neighboring buildings, local police aided the SA in demolishing and burning the synagogue’s interior. The synagogue was later leveled, after which the site accommodated an air raid shelter. At least 34 Lechenich Jews perished in the Shoah. In memory of the community, a memorial plaque was erected at the site of the former Jewish school.

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This entry was originally published on Beit Ashkenaz - Destroyed German Synagogues and Communities website and contributed to the Database of the Museum of the Jewish People courtesy of Beit Ashkenaz.

Written by researchers of ANU Museum of the Jewish People
Edel Lechenich

Friesheim

Friesheim

A town in the Rhein-Erft district in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

First Jewish presence: unknown; peak Jewish population: 61 in 1861; Jewish population in 1933: 26

In 1665, three Jewish families lived in Friesheim. The synagogue association of Lechenich-Friesheim-Gymnich was formed in 1849, but each town maintained its status as an independent Jewish community. Records tell us that 60 Jews lived in Friesheim in 1872, when the town’s total population was 1,245. In Friesheim, prayer rooms were established in the Cahn and Hirsch family homes. The 19th-century community attended Sabbath services in Weilerswist until 1863, when a synagogue was inaugurated at 35 Niederweg (formerly 41 Niederweg). A Jewish cemetery was consecrated in Friesheim in the 1850s. On Pogrom Night (Nov. 9, 1938), the interior of the synagogue was destroyed, after which the building was torn down with the help of the volunteer fire brigade. Eighteen Jews still lived in Friesheim in 1939. Later, in July 1942, the town’s remaining Jews were deported to the Nazi concentration and death camps in Eastern Europe. At least 89 Friesheim Jews perished in the Shoah. At the synagogue site, now a yard, one can discern the outline of the former synagogue’s foundation. As of this writing, a memorial has not been erected there.

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This entry was originally published on Beit Ashkenaz - Destroyed German Synagogues and Communities website and contributed to the Database of the Museum of the Jewish People courtesy of Beit Ashkenaz.