Online Archive of Jewish Communities

At the Markenhof estate near Kirchzarten, Alexander Moch from Schwanau-Nonnenweier had been running a farm since the end of the First World War, which was intended to train young Jews willing to emigrate for their future work in their new adopted country of Palestine. The Markenhof is considered the first 'kibbutz' on German soil.

In Kirchheimbolanden existed a Jewish community until 1938/40. Their emergence goes back to the time of the 16th /17th century . For the first time a Jewish inhabitant is mentioned in 1537. 
 
In 1718 there were ten Jewish families in the village. In the 19th century the number increased rapidly: from 40 Jewish community members in 1804 to 201 in 1825.