L Dear
friends. I am writing to tell you
the story of the Bad Sobernheim Synagogue.
Bad
Sobernheim has had Jewish citizens living in it from 1301 until 1942.
(Sobernheim drawing)
R In
1816 a small one-room synagogue existed in the House of Werner on Marumstrasse
20.
In
1839 the construction police threaten to close down the 25m2 big
room of the House of Werner because
it is too small for the growing Jewish community.
(photo of the school – old Synagogue)
L In 1858 this synagogue is built on the area of
a former barn.
(L-photo
of door, R- old photo of Synagogue)
L In
1895 the Jewish community grows to its largest proportions with 135 people and
in 1904 the Synagogue
is enlarged to the west due to the growing community.
(plan)
R In
1931 Herta Marum and Dr. Julius Stern are the last couple to be married in the
Synagogue.
(photo of the couple)
L In
1933 the Anti-Semitic Nazi regime comes into power in Germany.
(L-cover of book), (R-
Video or photo of Nazi political rally)
L This
picnic at the Marum sock factory was held in 1934. The Marums were the wealthiest Jewish family whose factory employed 800 gentiles.
(L-video of picnic, logo
of Socks, photo of factory)
L On
November 10, 1938 the infamous Crystal Nacht happened in Germany.
In
Sobernheim Nazi storm troopers went through town with hammers and axes to
destroy Jewish
homes. They beat Jewish citizens and dragged
them from their homes.
(try to get video footage or photo)
R The
synagogue was desecrated. Fire was
lit and many prayer books were destroyed.
(photo of synagogue with
fire)
L The
torah rolls were rescued and buried in a garden by Christian friends of the
Jews.
(photo of torah rolls)
R The
curtain was saved by the Christian householder of Heinrich Marum.
(photo of curtain)
L After
these events many Jews fearing the Nazi government emigrate from Germany to US,
England
or Israel. Among them was the
Marum family of Sobernheim who made this film on their way to US.
(video
of immigration)
R World
War two begins in September 1939. The same year the Jewish community is forced
to sell the synagogue to the city,
which wants to use it as a community room for the gymnasium. A request letter to sell the Synagogue is signed under threat
by the Jewish community leader Jonas
Haas. During WWII it is used as a warehouse for German soldiers.
(letter from Jonas Haas)
L In
1942 the 12 remaining Jews of Sobernheim were deported to concentration camps.
The youngest deported was 14 and
the oldest was 94.
(12 deportation photos)
L World
War II ends in 1945.
(photo or video of war end)
R Hans
Marum shows German Citizens the atrocities of the Nazi final solution.
(Hans Marum video)
L After
WWII the synagogue was restituted to the new Jewish community of Bad Krausnach
and Birkenfield. The Jewish community views the
Synagogue as real estate and looks to sell it.
In
1953 the Synagogue is sold to Oskar Schmidt who builds two extra floors plus a
garage between
the synagogue and the house of BREGENZER.
The Synagogue is used as a furniture warehouse
for the Kaufhaus Schmidt department store.
(photo of interior of synagogue)
R In
1971 the plan for redevelopment of inner city is produced which recommends a
pedestrian area
and Grosstrasse to go through the area on which the synagogue stands and
recommends the demolition
of the synagogue.
(plan with Eberhardt making red mark)
L In
1981 Art Historians filled out an application for the protection of the
synagogue as a historic site.
The
regional office for preservation of historic buildings accepts the application
and places the synagogue
under protection. The city and
owner of the synagogue try to prevent the historic site designation without
success.
(document)
R In
1989 the Forderverein Synagogue Sobernheim support club is founded. Contact was
made with
families who left or were deported.
(photos of families)
L In
1994 Hans Marum paints the painting of the interior of the Synagogue as it
looked when it was
in service.
(painting)
R In
2001 the City of Bad Sobernheim becomes the new owner of the Synagogue by
exchanging it for parking
places.
(city coat of arms)
L In
2002 the Synagogue was partially restored and the Jewish Star was raised onto
the top of the synagogue.
It was a Gift of the grandchildren of Alfred Marum.
(photo of star)
R In
2003 the first Jewish religious ceremony took place in the Synagogue in 65
years.
(photo)
L In
2004 the first Concert was performed in the Synagogue.
(photo)
R In
2007 City Council unanimously decided to renovate the Synagogue.
(computer simulation)
L Since
1957 Jewish students spend time at the Max-Willner-Heim here in Bad Sobernheim.
(L-video
of kids singing, R-video of kids dancing)
L We
have renovated the synagogue and created a library and a place for lectures and
concerts. This
historic building can once again be used for worship, concerts and the study of
our history.
(L-photo during renovation, R-photo when finished)