Hoerstein
General information: First Jewish presence: unknown; peak Jewish population: 137 in 1880 (11.9% of the total population); Jewish population in 1933: 98
Summary: Hoerstein’s Jewish community was founded in the mid-18th
century. Local Jews conducted services in an 18th-century
prayer room until 1820, when the community established a synagogue (renovated in 1909). Other communal
institutions included a mikveh, a Jewish elementary school
and a cemetery, the last of which was consecrated in 1812
and enlarged in 1848.
In 1933, eight pupils attended the elementary school. A
chevra kadisha and a charitable association were still active
in the community that year.
The synagogue was desecrated in 1936—the windows
were smashed twice that year—and again in 1937. Three
local Jews were severely beaten by SS men in August
1938, not long after which, on the eve of the Jewish New
year (September 26), stones were hurled at and into the
synagogue; the authorities ordered all Jews to leave Hoerstein
that day. A few days later, on the eve of the Jewish Sabbath,
windows in nearly all Jewish homes were broken, as were,
the following day, those in the synagogue.
The Jewish school was closed on November 1, 1938, by
which point most Hoerstein Jews had fled. Unable to conduct
services at the synagogue, the remaining Jews congregated
in a private residence. On Pogrom Night, rioters damaged
the synagogue, school and mikveh buildings, destroying the
interiors, furniture and ritual objects. The synagogue and
school buildings were later confiscated by the municipal
authorities.
Forty-four local Jews emigrated and 46 relocated within
Germany. Hoerstein’s last Jew left in April 1940. At least 58
Hoerstein Jews perished in the Shoah.
The synagogue building was demolished in 1982.
Photo: The synagogue of Hoerstein in 1909, shortly before it was inaugurated. Courtesy of: Town Archive of Hoerstein.
Author / Sources: Yaakov Borut
Sources: AJ, EJL, PK-BAV
Sources: AJ, EJL, PK-BAV
Located in: bavaria