(JHE) — The city of Hamburg has purchased the ruins of the reform synagogue on downtown Poolstrasse, built in 1844 and the first synagogue to have been constructed for the German liberal community, paving the way for preservation of the historic site.
“The purchase ensures that this important cultural monument can be permanently preserved and protected,” the city said in a press release earlier in December.
The former temple complex, which is under monument protection, is to be structurally preserved as a Jewish cultural monument and place of remembrance and made accessible to the public.
As part of the project, residential space is to be integrated into the complex. (Apartments already exist there.)
NOTE: This is one of three major Jewish heritage projects in Hamburg, which we will be treating in separate articles. (The other two are restoration work at the Ohlsdorf Jewish cemetery and major financing for reconstruction of the destroyed Bornplatz synagogue.)
“The remains of the former New Israelite Temple are of particular religious and historical importance,” the City said.
Built in 1844, it was designed by Johann Hinrich Klees-Wülbern (1800-1845) in a mix of neo-classical and Moorish styles. It was almost totally destroyed by aerial bombing during WW2, but the ruins have been listed as a cultural monument for years and are marked with a plaque.
Only two parts of the building remain standing, in very poor condition, as a web site devoted to the synagogue describes:
The temple ruins are located behind a front building, not visible from the street or only visible when looking through the courtyard entrance. Two parts of the building from 1844 have fortunately been preserved until today: The entrance area on the west side and the eastern area with the apse. The entrance area is the ruined part of the building, which today houses [a] car repair shop (as well as [a] rental apartment). The rear part is unused and in extremely bad condition due to weather conditions. From the street side, a plaque reminds of the former use of the building.
The web site describes the original appearance of the building:
The façade of the entrance section building to the west was flanked by two lateral octagonal towers in the style of minarets and incorporated elements of both the Moorish and the Classicist-Neo-Gothic architectural styles. The portal of the building had a Hebrew chronostichon as its heading. The translation reads: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Eternal.” (Ps 118.26 EU)
Several parts of the building did not conform to the traditional building patterns for synagogues and pointed to the reform programme: One unusual feature was a large gate opening the vestibule as a common entrance for men and women. To the left of the gate, a staircase led to the choir gallery and to the organ built by Paul Rother. Both were thus located above the vestibule and this was completely unusual for an Orthodox rite, also because the partially paid mixed choir performed from above and outside the main nave, although a boys’ choir usually sang below in close contact with the congregation. The women’s cloakroom, on the other hand, was conventionally, i.e. separately accommodated, accessible via the aforementioned left vestibule staircase, while the men’s cloakroom was located opposite on the right. The main nave, measuring 40 m × 23 m with an arched roof, had room for 380 men.
Read the press release announcing the purchase, on the Hamburg city web site
Access the web site devoted to the campaign to preserve the ruins