Grebenstein
General information: First Jewish presence: 1345; peak Jewish population: 163 in 1849; Jewish population in 1933: 49
Summary:
It was not until the 18th century that Jews, under the
protection of local nobles, established a permanent presence
in Grebenstein; many members of this early community
were fur and textile merchants. By the late 19th century,
many local Jews had established themselves as shop owners
and livestock traders.
The Jews of Grebenstein not only maintained a Jewish
women’s organization, but were also active in many local
non-Jewish associations. The Jewish communities of
Holzhausen and Immenhausen were affiliated with the Grebenstein congregation, which itself was affiliated with
the congregation in Kassel.
Beginning in 1840, services were conducted at the
Jewish school (established in 1832 and closed in 1911).
Later, in 1894/95, a new Orthodox synagogue was built on
the same spot; the synagogue was financed by the sons of
Mayer Goldschmidt, a bank owner and former member of
the congregation who had moved to Frankfurt am Main.
It was during this period, too, that the Rothschild bank
established a fund for poor Jewish families in Grebenstein.
The community, however, never had a rabbi, and prayer
services were presided over by the teacher/chazzan. We
also know that the Jewish cemetery on Burgberg was
consecrated in 1850, one year after the community
purchased the site.
Jews began leaving Grebenstein shortly after the Nazis’
election victories. On Pogrom Night, Grebenstein’s
remaining Jewish homes and the synagogue were vandalized
and looted; the latter was fully destroyed two years later.
By September 1939, all Jews had left the town. At least
26 local Jews perished in the Shoah. A memorial was later
unveiled at the former synagogue site.
Author / Sources: Swetlana Frank
Sources: AJ, DJGH, EJL, FJG, LJG, SIA, SIH
Sources: AJ, DJGH, EJL, FJG, LJG, SIA, SIH
Located in: hesse