Setterich

Summary: Setterich’s first documented Jew converted to Christianity in 1664. Although the Jewish community was always small, it insisted on maintaining its status as an independent community: in 1930, for example, the community refused to merge with that of Linnich. The Jews of Setterich conducted services in prayer rooms until the start of the 19th century, when a synagogue was established at 9 Bahnhofstrasse. According to the current mayor of nearby Baesweiler, 43 Jews lived in Baesweiler, Setterich and Oidtweiler in 1933. On Pogrom Night, ritual artifacts were stolen from the Setterich synagogue; it is not known, however, whether an attempt was made to burn down the building, which was demolished in 1939. According to Yad Vashem, at least 23 Jews from Setterich died in the Shoah. A new building was later erected on the former synagogue site. As of this writing, a memorial plaque has never been unveiled in Setterich.

Author / Sources: Benjamin Rosendahl
Sources: SG-NRW, YV
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