Synagogue Reichenbachstraße (Munich)

About its construction and its inauguration on September 5, 1931 could be read in the Bayerische Israelitische Gemeindezeit on September 15, 1931: "Inauguration ceremony of the new synagogue in Munich. On Saturday, September 5, the new synagogue of the Eastern Jewish prayer hall associations Linath-Hazedek and Agudath-Achim in Munich on Reichenbachstrasse was handed over to its intended purpose in a solemn act in which the entire Jewish community of Munich participated without distinction of direction." In the last issue of the 'Jüdisches Echo' Dr. Emanuel Horn gives an overview of the nature and development of the East Jewish community in Munich, namely of the various new religious cultural and charitable associations of the Munich East Jews. Here the reasons are also discussed which led to the preservation of the Munich Ostjuden as a special social stratum, valuable for Judaism, culturally clearly determined. A real sociology of the Munich Ostjuden would still have to be written.

During the pogrom in November 1938, the interior of the East Jewish synagogue in Reichenbacher Straße was demolished and largely destroyed. However, the building was preserved and after 1945 could be renovated and refurnished as a synagogue.

The Israelite Religious Community, newly founded on July 19, 1945, was able to inaugurate the restored synagogue at Reichenbachstrasse 27 on May 20, 1947.  
The correspondent of the first issue of the Jüdische Rundschau reported: ",In the presence of distinguished guests, such as the military governor for the US occupation zone, General Lucius D. Clay, Ambassador Robert D. Murphy, General Walter J. Muller and other members of the American military government, representatives of the Jewish communities and organizations, the German public, among them Minister President Dr. Hans Ehard and other notable personalities, the rebuilt synagogue in Reichenbachstrasse was solemnly inaugurated in Munich on May 20. The centerpiece of the ceremony was the speech by General Lucius D. Clay, in which he expressed the hope that the consecration would usher in the era of a new understanding. The President of the Jewish Religious Community, Dr. Julius Spanier, welcomed the guests and paid special tribute to the efforts of the Bavarian State Government, which had the synagogue destroyed in November 1938 rebuilt. Lord Mayor Dr. Scharnagl conveyed warmest congratulations to the City of Munich. State Commissioner Dr. Philipp Auerbach presented the key to the synagogue to Chief Rabbi Dr. Aron Ohrenstein, who also delivered the first sermon. After a moving commemoration of the dead, Legal Consultant Major Abraham S. Hyman unveiled the memorial plaque for the six million Jewish victims killed by Nazism. At a banquet held that evening in honor of General Lucius Dr. Clay, the special delegate of the American Jewish Conference, Hans Lamm, brought the greetings of all friends and brothers from the United States and read a special message from the former spiritual leader of the Munich Jewish Community, Rabbi Dr. Leo Baerwald, now living in New York. The president of the Council of Liberated Jews in the U.S. Zone, Dr. Samuel Gringauz, then conveyed the greetings of the liberated Jews in Germany."  

After World War II, the synagogue on Reichenbachstrasse became the main synagogue until the opening of the Ohel Jakob synagogue on Sankt-Jakobs-Platz in 2007.