Epe
General information: First Jewish presence: unknown (see below); peak Jewish population: unknown; Jewish population in 1933: unknown
Summary:
Although Jews may have settled in Epe before 1805, it was
only then that a continuous Jewish presence was established
there. In nearby Ahaus, the synagogue association issued
a statute that established the sub-community of Gronau-
Epe-Nienborg.
Services were conducted in a rented prayer room until
1891. In 1907, the community inaugurated a synagogue
on 5 Wilhelmstrasse; the brick building accommodated
approximately 50 worshipers, a balcony for women and
a mikveh. Although the Jews of Epe were not able to hire
a teacher or a cantor, it is likely that religious education
was provided by the district rabbinate
of Muenster, to which the community
belonged. Burials were probably conducted
in Gronau, where a Jewish cemetery had
been consecrated in 1828.
On Pogrom Night, SA men ravaged
the synagogue and set the building on fire.
Jewish homes were also damaged, and Jews
were assaulted. Reports mention a Jewish
woman, who had been treated thus and
whose husband had been arrested, pleading
for help, but to no avail, for her non-Jewish
friends feared reprisals. Hugo Lebenstein,
Simon Pagener and an 84-year-old by
the name of Jonas were dragged onto the
street and abused so badly that they had
to be hospitalized. Next to the burning
synagogue building, SA men sang festive
songs and tried to prevent the fire brigade
from extinguishing the fire.
A memorial plaque was later affixed to the synagogue
building, now used by the Red Cross as a social hall for the
elderly.
At least 68 Epe Jews perished in the Shoah.
Author / Sources: Esther Sarah Evans
Sources: EJL, GLJW, JGNB1. SIA YV
www.overberg-epe.de/chronik04_05/kranzniederlegung/kranz1.htm
www.lwl.org
Sources: EJL, GLJW, JGNB1. SIA YV
www.overberg-epe.de/chronik04_05/kranzniederlegung/kranz1.htm
www.lwl.org
Located in: north-rhine-westphalia