Markenhof
79199 Kirchzarten
Germany
On the Markenhof estate near Kirchzarten Alexander Moch from Schwanau-Nonnenweier operated a farm since 1919, which also served as a hachshara, i.e. preparation for immigration to Palestine. The Markenhof is considered the "first kibbutz of German Jews" (Ruben Frankenstein). The teaching estate was financed by the Jewish entrepreneur Konrad Goldmann. He also established with his funds a synagogue on the farm, whose windows were designed by Friedrich Adler from Laupheim. Later Goldmann gave the windows as a donation to Mayor Meir Dizengoff for the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. In the Museum Schloss Großlaupheim copies of the windows can be seen, motifs of the 12 tribes of Israel. The columns that originally framed Adler's windows are now in a kibbutz near Nahariya (Kibbutz Beit Haemek/Israel). Here, memorial plaques also commemorate Konrad Goldmann, who perished in Drancy, and Markenhof Kirchzarten.
DAN: 'Dings rightly his people, as one of Israel's tribes. Yes, Dan becomes a serpent in the way and an adder in the path.' (Genesis 49:16) Depicted is a coiled serpent raising its head high.
GAD: 'And unto Gad he said, Blessed be he that maketh room for Gad. He lies like a lion and robs the arm and the crown.' (Deut. 33:20) The tribe depicted as battle-hardened is represented by Adler as a reclining lioness.
JOSEPH: 'Methought we bound sheaves in the field, and my sheaf rose up and stood, and your sheaves round about bowed down to my sheaf' (Genesis 37:7). Joseph, the one favored by his father anyway, by recounting his dream increased the disfavor of his brothers, who then threw him into a pit."
ASCHER: 'Fat is his food, he provides king's delicacies.' (Genesis 49:20) Adler symbolizes this by means of a vine with ripe grapes.
SEBULU (SEBULON): 'Zebulun, settling on the sea shore, he on the shore by the ships, and his side leaning against Sidon.' (Genesis 49:13) Eagle represents this with a three-masted sailing ship on a troubled sea.
REUBEN (RUBEN): 'You, my firstling, strength to me and first to my strength (Gen. 49:3). The Bible does without a symbol. In eagle it is a tree. 'Tree for the wealth of the firstborn.'
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