Gross-Karben

Summary: Although individual Jews lived in Gross-Karben in the 12th, 13th, and 14th centuries, it was only in the 17th century that a Jewish community was established there. In 1740, one year after the authorities finally granted the community permission to build a house of worship, a synagogue was inaugurated in Gross-Karben. The community established a larger synagogue and mikveh at 10 Heldenberger Strasse (with 72 seats for men, 36 for women) in 1840, a new cemetery in 1870 and an elementary school by 1870 (closed in 1928). In 1933, the community still employed a teacher of religion who served as chazzan and shochet. Jews from Rendel, Okarben and Klein- Karben were affiliated with the community. During the daytime on November 9, 1938, before Pogrom Night began, the synagogue was plundered and set on fire; Jewish homes and businesses were ransacked. The next day, Jewish homes were again attacked, and Jewish men were detained and brutally whipped, after which they were deported to Buchenwald. The synagogue ruins were cleared after the pogrom, and the cemetery was sold in 1939. At least 24 local Jews emigrated; others relocated within Germany. Nine Jews were deported to Theresienstadt in September 1942. In February 1945, a Jewish woman married to a Christian was deported, also to Theresienstadt. At least 42 Gross-Karben Jews perished in the Shoah. The cemetery houses a small monument, and a memorial stone has been unveiled at the former synagogue site.

Author / Sources: Esther Sarah Evans Sources: AJ, EJL, PK-HNF www.karben.de www.hartmutpolzer-archiv.de www.jewishgen.org www.wetterauer-zeitung.de