Hemsbach synagogue

In 1843, the Jewish community, under its then head Max Pfälzer, bought what is now the property at Mittelgasse 16 in the center of Hemsbach.

In 1845, master builder Valentin Fuchs drew up plans for a synagogue with a school, a teacher's apartment and a bathhouse.

The plans were implemented with the construction of the Jewish community center in 1847/48. On the south side of the synagogue courtyard, a bathhouse with a ritual bath was created.

In 1895, the Jewish community was hit by a serious fire disaster. In the neighborhood, due to arson, a fire broke out in an agricultural property, to which a total of five barns, several stables and the synagogue fell victim. The fire in the synagogue could be extinguished soon, but nevertheless a completely new roof truss had to be built in the following months; the roof was newly covered with clay interlocking tiles.

During the November pogrom of 1938, out-of-town SA people detonated an explosive charge in the synagogue on November 10, 1938, causing considerable destruction. 

End of the 1960s one wanted to demolish still with a part of the Hemsbacher old part of town also the former synagogue, in order to build new dwellings.

First considerations for a more meaningful use of the structurally now completely run-down building were made around 1980. In 1981, the city acquired the former synagogue. In 1982, it was entered in the register of monuments as a cultural monument of special significance and has since enjoyed protection under Section 12 of the Monument Protection Act of Baden-Württemberg. In 1984, a "Förderverein Ehemalige Synagoge in Hemsbach e.V." was formed.

Members of the association and students from the Hemsbach Hauptschule and Realschule undertook a major de-cluttering campaign in July 1985 to clear out the large amount of junk that had accumulated in the building since 1942. The restorations were completed in the fall of 1987 with the renovation of the bathhouse. The goal of the work was to restore the buildings to their former condition as much as possible.  

On September 14, 1987, the restored former synagogue was rededicated. Since then, it has served for cultural purposes in keeping with the dignity of the building. A Torah scroll rescued from the synagogue in 1938 is in a synagogue in Tom's River (USA).

Last use: interdenominational meeting place and memorial site.