Somborn

Summary: The Jews of Somborn belonged to the community of Meerholz until 1905. Religious services were initially conducted in prayer rooms, but in 1906 the newly-founded Somborn community established a synagogue (40 seats for men, 27 for women) at 14 Josephstrasse. Although the community was able to maintain a religious school and a mikveh, burials took place in Niedermittlau. Jewish children attended the elementary school in Meerholz. Somborn belonged to the Hanau district rabbinate. In 1931/32, the community leaders were Josef Sonneberg and Siegfried Strauss. Leo Strauss instructed six children in religion that year. Forty-seven Jews lived in Somborn in 1933, shortly after which seven emigrated from or relocated within Germany. On Pogrom Night (November 1938), the interior of the synagogue was destroyed; during the Shoah, the building housed prisoners of war. Only four Jews lived in Somborn in 1939; in 1942, the last two were deported. At least 19 Somborn Jews perished in the Shoah. During the years 1945 to 1955, the former synagogue building was used as a school. It stood empty until 1966, when it was converted into a residential building. In November 2002, a plaque commemorating the destroyed community was affixed to the house of Josef Sonneberg, a former Jewish resident.

Author / Sources: Esther Sarah Evans
Sources: AJ, FJG, SIH