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The Jewish Community of Marmoutier

Marmoutier 

In German: Maursmünster 

A commune in the department of Bas-Rhin in the historical region of Alsace, France. Marmoutier was annexed by Germany between 1871-1918

The Jewish presence in Marmoutier dates from early Middle Ages. Jewish merchants lived in Marmoutier in the 10th century and worked for the local abbey. In 1338 Samuel von Maursmünster (Morsminster) is mentioned in Strasbourg. They continued to live in the village for centuries, although occasionally there were attempts to expel them. With the time a topographic segregation was introduced against the Jews with the interdiction of living close to the local monastery and church. The 1848 Revolution sparked in Marmoutier the worst anti-Jewish riots in the entire region of northern Alsace. About 20 Jewish houses were completely destroyed by fire after having been looted. Only the intervention of the army stopped the violence.

By mid-17th century there were about 30 Jewish families in Marmoutier. Their number declined to 20 in 1690. In 1784 there were around 299 Jews living in the village. In 1807 their number stood at 357 and in 1846 reached peak of 469, about 20% of the total population. During the second half of the 19th century the Jewish population remained significant with 379 Jews recorded in 1870 and 192 in 1897, however, in 1910, the number of Jewish inhabitants deceased sharply to 130. In 1936 there were 60 Jews living in Marmoutier.

Marmoutier was the seat of a rabbinate from the 18th century until its dissolution in 1910, after that year the community belonged to the rabbinate of Saverne. The synagogue was opened in 1822. The community had a mikveh and a school and employed a teacher who also served as a a shochet. A Jewish cemetery was established in the 18th century.

Jews were active in the local politics. During the 19th century one or two Jews were memebers of the municipal council, and two of them served as mayors of the village, Joseph Bloch, from 1877 to 1879, and Dr. Joseph Bielski from 1893 to 1914.

After the German occupation of Alsace in 1940, the remaining 50 Jews of Marmoutier were deported to southern France, of them 17 perished in the Holocaust.

At the end of WW II, a number of Jews returned to Marmoutier. In 1953 there were about 54 Jews living in Marmoutier, but their number declined during late 1950s and early 1960s and eventually the community disbanded in 2006.

The building of the former synagogue has been turned into the local cultural center. The Jewish cemetery contains about 500 tombstones, the oldest dates from 1799.

Le Musée du Patrimoine et du Judaïsme alsacien de Marmoutier is dedicated to the documentation and preservation of the Jewish heritage of the region, address: 6, rue du Général Leclerc, Marmoutier. Address of the former synagogue: Rue de la Synagogue, Marmoutier

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The Jewish Community of Marmoutier

Marmoutier 

In German: Maursmünster 

A commune in the department of Bas-Rhin in the historical region of Alsace, France. Marmoutier was annexed by Germany between 1871-1918

The Jewish presence in Marmoutier dates from early Middle Ages. Jewish merchants lived in Marmoutier in the 10th century and worked for the local abbey. In 1338 Samuel von Maursmünster (Morsminster) is mentioned in Strasbourg. They continued to live in the village for centuries, although occasionally there were attempts to expel them. With the time a topographic segregation was introduced against the Jews with the interdiction of living close to the local monastery and church. The 1848 Revolution sparked in Marmoutier the worst anti-Jewish riots in the entire region of northern Alsace. About 20 Jewish houses were completely destroyed by fire after having been looted. Only the intervention of the army stopped the violence.

By mid-17th century there were about 30 Jewish families in Marmoutier. Their number declined to 20 in 1690. In 1784 there were around 299 Jews living in the village. In 1807 their number stood at 357 and in 1846 reached peak of 469, about 20% of the total population. During the second half of the 19th century the Jewish population remained significant with 379 Jews recorded in 1870 and 192 in 1897, however, in 1910, the number of Jewish inhabitants deceased sharply to 130. In 1936 there were 60 Jews living in Marmoutier.

Marmoutier was the seat of a rabbinate from the 18th century until its dissolution in 1910, after that year the community belonged to the rabbinate of Saverne. The synagogue was opened in 1822. The community had a mikveh and a school and employed a teacher who also served as a a shochet. A Jewish cemetery was established in the 18th century.

Jews were active in the local politics. During the 19th century one or two Jews were memebers of the municipal council, and two of them served as mayors of the village, Joseph Bloch, from 1877 to 1879, and Dr. Joseph Bielski from 1893 to 1914.

After the German occupation of Alsace in 1940, the remaining 50 Jews of Marmoutier were deported to southern France, of them 17 perished in the Holocaust.

At the end of WW II, a number of Jews returned to Marmoutier. In 1953 there were about 54 Jews living in Marmoutier, but their number declined during late 1950s and early 1960s and eventually the community disbanded in 2006.

The building of the former synagogue has been turned into the local cultural center. The Jewish cemetery contains about 500 tombstones, the oldest dates from 1799.

Le Musée du Patrimoine et du Judaïsme alsacien de Marmoutier is dedicated to the documentation and preservation of the Jewish heritage of the region, address: 6, rue du Général Leclerc, Marmoutier. Address of the former synagogue: Rue de la Synagogue, Marmoutier

Written by researchers of ANU Museum of the Jewish People