Hoof

Summary: This Jewish community, which united the congregations of Hoof, Breitenbach and Elmshagen, established a synagogue (with 48 seats for men and 30 for women) on Corbacher Strasse in 1854; the building housed a mikveh (in the cellar), a classroom and a teacher’s apartment. The Jewish cemetery—consecrated in the 18th century on land that had been given to the community by the Dalgwigk family, a local family of nobles—was closed in 1838, soon after which, in 1840, a new cemetery was consecrated on Corbacher Strasse. In 1827, Abraham Goldschmidt gave his first lesson at the new Jewish elementary school (28 students); he served the community for 54 years as teacher, cantor and ritual slaughterer. The community’s last teacher was Menko Schirling, who held that post until the school was closed in 1934. The synagogue was destroyed two days before Pogrom Night, but the building itself was used during the Nazi regime. Most Jews left Hoof before the outbreak of World War II; those who remained were sent to Kassel and, later, deported to the East. Two memorial plaques were affixed to the former prayer house in 1998. The synagogue building was converted into a private residence after the war.

Author / Sources: Swetlana Frank
Sources: AJ, DJGH, EJL, FJG, LJG, SIA, SIH