The Jewish cemetery Potsdam in the Puschkinallee 18 was created in 1743 on today's Pfingstberg. The oldest and at the same time only grave from the founding year of the cemetery belongs to Mrs. Edel, who died on 24.02.1743.

The University of Potsdam does not count directly as a Jewish place even for the students at the "School of Jewish Theology," but the Jewish faith is integrated.

On June 17, 1903, the former Potsdam synagogue was opened. However, already in 1938 there were the first attacks on the interior of the synagogue. On April 14, 1945, the synagogue roof was destroyed. Until the destruction in the war used as a post office hearing room.

In 1957, the GDR decided to demolish the synagogue. This was because the GDR was not willing to pay the cost of the roof renovation.

Who was Hannah Arendt?

Hannah Arendt, full name Johannah Arendt, was a Jewish German-American philosopher and publicist. She was born in Linden (modern-day Hanover) on October 14, 1906, and died in New York City on December 4, 1975. In 1933, she openly called for a fight against the National Socialists .

Residence of Hannah Arendt 1929/30      

The Jewish Community of Berlin is organized as a unitary congregation that operates six community synagogues, both Orthodox and liberal. Since 2006, Berlin has also had a Sephardic synagogue. Three rabbis of the Jewish community and several other rabbis, including a woman again since 2007, work in Berlin. With more than 10,000 members (March 1, 2018) the Jewish Community of Berlin is the largest Jewish community in Germany.