Jewish Community

The Jewish community house, built in the 18th century and acquired by the Jewish community after the opening of the Hanau ghetto, was located on the property, as well as the Jewish community school since 1890. The community house itself played a decisive role. The fact that the community house was acquired was an important stage in the development of the community. It was a step from isolation in the ghetto to becoming an emancipated part of the urban community. But a community house also strengthens a community in other ways.

Hirsch Oppenheimer was active as teacher, cantor as well as shochet.

Since May 2000, the small Jewish community in Oranienburg exists, which counted about 80 members in 2005; the "community rebirth" belongs to the state association of Jewish communities in Brandenburg.

Elena Miropolskaya is the chairwoman of the community. The congregation has 128 members (as of 2018/ZWST).

The congregation has one rabbi.

When the Empire was founded in 1871, 255 Jewish citizens lived in Brandenburg/Havel. Their number increased to 469 by 1925. In 1877, the Jewish community built a new community center with rabbi's and cantor's apartment on the street side in Große Münzenstr. 15.

Every other Sunday, students meet at the lifroach youth club and teach younger children Jewish customs, festivals and Hebrew. The children and youth (madrichim=caregivers) begin with a prayer before the meal and end it again with a prayer. After the meal and between the lessons there are games for the little ones to loosen up. 

Also, the young people exchange ideas with communities in other countries.