Leipzig - Gottschedstrasse, Gemeindesynagoge [Community Synagogue]
Summary: In 1855, the 80 members of Leipzig’s Jewish community
inaugurated an Orthodox synagogue (with 1,600 seats)
on Gottschedstrasse. The Leipzig Jewish community grew
quickly after the synagogue was built, and by 1875 it had
2,500 members, many of whom were Jewish businessmen
who regularly attended the Leipzig fair.
The Gemeindesynagoge (Community Synagogue),
designed by the famous architect Otto Simonson, was built
in the Moorish architectural style. As the layout of the site
was rather odd, the building was designed in the shape of
a trapezoid.
With the passing of time, the synagogue adopted liberal
practices: In 1865, for example, the congregation voted to
install an organ; the synagogue also became known as Der
Temple.
In 1925, the Leipzig police uncovered a plot, hatched by
followers of Hitler, to blow up the synagogue. Years later,
on Pogrom Night, November 1938, the synagogue was
plundered and set on fire, after which the Jewish community
was billed for costs of demolishing what remained of the
building.
In 1966, a memorial stone was erected on the former
synagogue’s site.
Photo: Curious onlookers at the main synagogue in Leipzig, after it was burned. Courtesy of: City Archive of Leipzig.
Author / Sources: Moshe Finkel
Sources: JSIL
Sources: JSIL
Located in: saxony