Untergrombach
General information: First Jewish presence: 17th century; peak Jewish population: 130 in 1864; Jewish population in 1933: 32
Summary: In 1815, the Jews of Untergrombach replaced their prayer
hall with a synagogue. The community maintained a school
until 1876, when all confessional schools in Baden were
closed, after which a teacher who also served as a shochet and
chazzan instructed local Jewish schoolchildren in religion.
Burials were conducted at the Obergrombach cemetery,
which had been consecrated in 1637.
In 1933, a chevra kadisha and a women’s association were
active in Untergrombach. The members of the Meerapfel
family, owners of one of Germany’s largest tobacco wholesale
companies, were natives of Untergrombach.
On Pogrom Night, an Untergrombach resident whose
barn was located next to the synagogue prevented the SA
from setting fire to the house of worship. Instead, the SA men
demolished the synagogue’s interior, burned its furniture and
ritual objects, and stole the Torah scrolls.
Nineteen local Jews emigrated, six relocated within
Germany, one died in the town and five were deported to Gurs
on October 22, 1940. A Jew married to a Christian survived
the war in Untergrombach. At least 26 Untergrombach Jews
died in the Shoah.
The synagogue was later demolished, but the enclosing
walls were incorporated into the building that was
then constructed in its place. In 1990, or thereabouts, a
commemorative plaque was unveiled in the center of town.
Author / Sources: Heike Zaun Goshen
Sources: AJ, EJL, PK BW
freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/
Sources: AJ, EJL, PK BW
freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/
Located in: baden-wuerttemberg