Obermoschel

In Obermoschel, a Jewish community existed until 1938/39. Its emergence goes back to the time of the 18th century. However, there were already Jews in the town in the Middle Ages. According to the Deutz Memorbuch, the persecution hit them in the plague period of 1348/49. Also in 1429 a Jew is mentioned in Obermoschel (Jud Salman, who is granted a mine in Selberg). After that, however, individual Jews cannot be traced until the second half of the 17th century: in 1674, one Jewish inhabitant is mentioned in the town. By the end of the 18th century, two to five Jewish families live in Obermoschel (four families in 1786). In 1744 Elias Marx was born in Obermoschel, who later settled in Ruppertshofen (died 1823 ibid.). 

From the time of the notorious robber "Schinderhannes" (around 1800) it is reported that he broke into a Jewish house in Obermoschel, but was put to flight by vigilant non-Jewish citizens. He escaped through a 'little gate' in the town wall.  

The Jewish families were largely integrated in the life of the city. As early as 1853, Elias Simon, a Jewish resident, was elected to the town council. Many Jewish community members were members of the town's associations. Around 1924, when 41 people still belonged to the community (2.8% of a total of 1,492 inhabitants, plus three community members in Niedermoschel and four in Odernheim), the community leaders were Albert Brück, Leopold Rheinstein, Josef Maier and Isaak Brück. In 1933, 35 Jewish people still lived in Obermoschel (out of a total population of about 1,300). In the following years, a large number of them moved away or emigrated due to the consequences of the economic boycott, the increasing deprivation of rights and the reprisals. In 1938, 23 Jewish inhabitants were still counted. During the November pogrom in 1938 the synagogue was destroyed. In 1939, 12 Jewish inhabitants were counted. The last nine were deported to Gurs in October 1940.