Oettingen
General information: First Jewish presence: 13th century; peak Jewish population: 440 in 1837 (13.4% of the total population); Jewish population in 1933: 66
Summary: The earliest record of Oettingen’s Jewish community refers
to the pogroms of 1298 and 1348/49. A Jewish presence was
once again established in the town in the mid-16th century.
Several leading rabbis lived in Oettingen, which was
divided between Lutheran and Catholic rulers. Accordingly,
there were two Jewish communities, two synagogues and two
regional rabbinates until 1731, when the communities were
united. Local Jews established a cemetery in 1850 and a new
synagogue, on Schaefflergasse, in 1853. Oettingen’s Jewish
elementary school closed down in 1928.
The arrival of a Jewish family from Moenchsroth (with
official permission) sparked a large demonstration in
November 1937. The father of the family was assaulted, after
which he was hospitalized and, later, placed in “protective”
custody.
On Pogrom Night, the synagogue’s interior was destroyed,
as were its ritual objects and 13 Torah scrolls. The community’s
archive and library were destroyed, Jewish homes and stores
were wrecked and Jewish men were deported to Dachau.
Ten Oettingen Jews emigrated, 45 relocated within
Germany and six died in Oettingen. In 1942, six were
deported to Piaski (via Munich). The town’s last two Jews
were moved to Hainsfarth in April 1942; their fate remains
unknown. At least 31 Oettingen Jews perished in the Shoah.
A memorial stone was affixed to the synagogue building
in 2005.
Author / Sources: Magret Liat Wolf
Sources: AJ, EJL, GKJS, LJS, PK-BAV
Sources: AJ, EJL, GKJS, LJS, PK-BAV
Located in: bavaria