Sandersleben
General information: First Jewish presence: early 17th century; peak Jewish population: 178 in 1807; Jewish population in 1933: unknown
Summary: Although the Jews of Sandersleben were granted property
rights early on, they were forbidden from engaging in
handicrafts or agriculture; accordingly, most were wool and
grain traders, and some later became moneylenders.
The Sandersleben Jewish community, which belonged
to Dessau until 1849, established a cemetery in 1730 (near
Bergstrasse) and a synagogue by 1743, the latter of which
later fell into disrepair, forcing the community to rent prayer
halls. In 1830, however, the Jews of Sandersleben inaugurated
a synagogue on the corner of Kanalstrasse and Kiethof; Duke
Leopold Friedrich von Anhalt-Dessau contributed 800
Thaler to the construction of the synagogue, which seated
125 worshipers and included an elevated section for women.
Although we do not know when the community’s
first Jewish school closed, records do tell us that one was
established in Sandersleben in the mid-18th century; Moses
Philippson served as teacher from 1775 until 1814, as did
Gotthold Salomon during the years 1784 to 1862. The new
Jewish school, located opposite the synagogue site, was closed
down in 1918.
In 1932/33, the community leader was Moritz Goldstein.
On Pogrom Night, the synagogue, which had been
renovated in 1935, was burned down; Mr. and Mrs. Adler
were arrested by the Gestapo and warned that they must leave
town. At least 15 Sandersleben Jews perished in the Shoah.
Rubble from the burned out synagogue was carted away
during the war years, after which a new property was built
on the site. The only remnant of Jewish Sandersleben is the
cemetery, where one can find several intact headstones.
Author / Sources: Esther Sarah Evans
Sources: FJG, LJG, YV
Sources: FJG, LJG, YV
Located in: saxony-anhalt