Rimbach
General information: First Jewish presence: in or around the year 1648; peak Jewish population: 232 in 1861 (13.6% of the total population); Jewish population in 1933; 77
Summary: The Jewish community of Rimbach, founded in or
around the year 1774, established its first synagogue in
approximately 1774; a new synagogue (with 120 seats for
men and 84 for women) on the corner of Schlossstrasse and
Heinzenwiesenweg in 1840; a mikveh in 1826; an elementary
school at some point before 1821; and a cemetery in 1849.
After the school closed, the community employed a teacher
of religion who also served as chazzan and shochet.
In 1933, nine schoolchildren studied religion in Rimbach
under the supervision of a teacher from Viernheim. Several
local Jews were sent to the Osthofen concentration camp
that year.
On Pogrom Night, the synagogue’s interior was destroyed;
Jewish homes and businesses were attacked that night, and
Jews were assaulted. The remaining Jews were later forced to
sell the synagogue for far less than its actual value, after which
it was converted into a storeroom for firefighting equipment.
The community was disbanded in 1939. In August 1941,
all remaining Jews were moved into two “Jews’ houses.” Forty
Jews emigrated, 21 relocated within Germany, 11 passed
away and one committed suicide. In 1942, four Jews were
deported to Poland and five to Theresienstadt. At least 55
Rimbach Jews perished in the Shoah.
In 1952/53, the synagogue was converted into a Catholic
church, to which a memorial plaque was later affixed.
Another plaque was unveiled at the cemetery.
Author / Sources: Esther Sarah Evans
Sources: AJ, EJL, PK-HNF
www.gedenktafel-infoportal.de
Sources: AJ, EJL, PK-HNF
www.gedenktafel-infoportal.de
Located in: hesse