Bergische Synagogue: Difference between revisions
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=== Jewish community after 1945 === | === Jewish community after 1945 === | ||
The former Barmen synagogue, completed in 1897 to designs by [[Ludwig Levy]], was destroyed during the November pogroms of 1938. In 1945, after the [[Second World War]], about 145 Jewish survivors returned to Wuppertal and re-established a community. | The former Barmen synagogue, completed in 1897 to designs by [[Ludwig Levy]], was destroyed during the November pogroms of 1938. In 1945, after the [[Second World War]], about 145 Jewish survivors returned to Wuppertal and re-established a community. BEcause there was no Jewish life left in Wuppertal after the war, services took place in the former Jewish retirement home, located in Friedrich-Ebert-Straße.<ref name="Uni">{{cite web |date=2026 |title=Documentation on the construction of the New Bergisch Synagogue (1996–2002) |url=https://www.uni-wuppertal.de/en/third-mission/science-communication/transfer-stories/2026/translate-to-englisch-bergische-synagoge/ |website=Bergische University Wuppertal}}</ref> | ||
By the end of the 1980s, the community | By the end of the 1980s, the Jewish community only included 65 members. During the 1990s, membership increased to approximately 2,000 due to the arrival of Jewish immigrants from the former [[Soviet Union]], which created a need for a larger synagogue.<ref name="Uni" /><ref name="Rundschau">{{cite news |date=27 January 2026 |title=Doku zum Bau der neuen Bergischen Synagoge Wuppertal |url=https://www.wuppertaler-rundschau.de/lokales/doku-zum-bau-der-neuen-bergischen-synagoge-wuppertal_aid-142929573 |work=Wuppertaler Rundschau}}</ref> | ||
=== Construction === | === Construction === | ||
In 1996, former Wuppertal mayor [[Ursula Kraus]] initiated the establishment of the ''Freundeskreis Neue Synagoge e.V.'', an association supporting the construction of a new synagogue in Barmen. The | In 1996, former Wuppertal mayor [[Ursula Kraus]] initiated the establishment of the ''Freundeskreis Neue Synagoge e.V.'', an association supporting the construction of a new synagogue in Barmen. The place intended for a future synagogue that was suitable for a growing Jewish community was near the protestant Gemarker Church.<ref name="Uni" /><ref name="Rundschau" /> | ||
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on 9 November 1998, a date that was also the 60th anniversary of the November pogroms. The foundation stone was laid in October 2001, and the synagogue was inaugurated on 8 December 2002.<ref name="Uni" /> | |||
The construction cost approximately €4.5 million. The project received support from the cities of Wuppertal, [[Solingen]], [[Remscheid]] and [[Velbert]], as well as from the German state and the Jewish community.<ref name="Rundschau" /> | The construction cost approximately €4.5 million. The project received support from the cities of Wuppertal, [[Solingen]], [[Remscheid]] and [[Velbert]], as well as from the German state and the Jewish community.<ref name="Rundschau" /> | ||
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The synagogue can accommodate approximately 300 people. Above the entrance is a [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] inscription from [[Isaiah 56:7]]: {{lang|he|ביתי בית תפלה יקרא לכל העמים}}, translated as "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples". The inscription also appeared above the entrance to the former Barmen synagogue.<ref name="Uni" /><ref name="Baukunst" /> | The synagogue can accommodate approximately 300 people. Above the entrance is a [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] inscription from [[Isaiah 56:7]]: {{lang|he|ביתי בית תפלה יקרא לכל העמים}}, translated as "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples". The inscription also appeared above the entrance to the former Barmen synagogue.<ref name="Uni" /><ref name="Baukunst" /> | ||
The | The inauguration of the synagogue was attended by German President [[Johannes Rau]], Israeli President [[Moshe Katsav]] and [[Paul Spiegel]], chairman of the [[Central Council of Jews in Germany]]. It was the first time that an Israeli president had attended the inauguration of a synagogue in Germany.<ref name="Wuppertal2002">{{cite web |date=8 December 2002 |title=Zwei Torarollen für die Bergische Synagoge |url=https://www.wuppertal.de/presse/meldungen/is4news/rathaus_behoerden_presse_2002/synagoge-nachmittag.php |website=City of Wuppertal}}</ref> | ||
== Attacks == | == Attacks == | ||
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On 29 July 2014, three men threw several incendiary devices at the synagogue. No one was injured and initial police investigations found no damage to the building. An 18-year-old suspect was arrested, while police searched for two other suspects.<ref name="AP20142">{{cite news |date=29 July 2014 |title=Synagogue in Germany attacked |url=https://www.ksl.com/article/news/world/synagogue-in-germany-attacked/30912014 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name="Reuters20142">{{cite news |date=29 July 2014 |title=Assailants attack synagogue in western Germany |url=https://www.jpost.com/jewish-world/jewish-features/assailants-attack-synagogue-in-western-germany-369284 |work=The Jerusalem Post |agency=Reuters}}</ref> The three men were later convicted of attempted aggravated arson. During the trial, the defendants said they had intended to draw attention to the [[Gaza–Israel conflict]].<ref name="taz20152">{{cite news |date=14 January 2015 |title=Anschlag auf Wuppertaler Synagoge: Der Alkohol soll Schuld sein |url=https://taz.de/Anschlag-auf-Wuppertaler-Synagoge/%215023774/ |work=die tageszeitung}}</ref> | On 29 July 2014, three men threw several incendiary devices at the synagogue. No one was injured and initial police investigations found no damage to the building. An 18-year-old suspect was arrested, while police searched for two other suspects.<ref name="AP20142">{{cite news |date=29 July 2014 |title=Synagogue in Germany attacked |url=https://www.ksl.com/article/news/world/synagogue-in-germany-attacked/30912014 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name="Reuters20142">{{cite news |date=29 July 2014 |title=Assailants attack synagogue in western Germany |url=https://www.jpost.com/jewish-world/jewish-features/assailants-attack-synagogue-in-western-germany-369284 |work=The Jerusalem Post |agency=Reuters}}</ref> The three men were later convicted of attempted aggravated arson. During the trial, the defendants said they had intended to draw attention to the [[Gaza–Israel conflict]].<ref name="taz20152">{{cite news |date=14 January 2015 |title=Anschlag auf Wuppertaler Synagoge: Der Alkohol soll Schuld sein |url=https://taz.de/Anschlag-auf-Wuppertaler-Synagoge/%215023774/ |work=die tageszeitung}}</ref> | ||
On 17 September 2026, a second attempted arson attack took place | On 17 September 2026, a second attempted arson attack took place as a man poured flammable liquid on the steps of a side entrance to the synagogue and set it on fire. Only minor damage was sustained because the fire was quickly put down. An Afghan man was later arrested near the synagogue. Knives and a [[machete]] were found in his flat and there are indications that he made comments indicating an [[Antisemitism|antisemitic]] motive.<ref name="Tagesschau20262">{{cite news |date=17 September 2026 |title=Anschlag auf Synagoge Wuppertal: Mann warf Beutel mit brennbarer Flüssigkeit gegen Gotteshaus |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/regional/nordrheinwestfalen/wdr-anschlag-auf-synagoge-wuppertal-mann-warf-beutel-mit-brennbarer-fluessigkeit-gegen-gotteshaus-100.html |work=Tagesschau}}</ref><ref name="DW20262">{{cite news |date=18 September 2026 |title=German police probe arson attack on Wuppertal synagogue |url=https://amp.dw.com/en/wuppertal-synagogue-attack/a-79331270 |work=Deutsche Welle}}</ref> | ||
== Gallery == | == Gallery == | ||