Synagogue

A synagogue existed in Eisenach since the Middle Ages. It was located in the then Judengasse, in the area of today's Karlsstraße 23 and existed until the 19th century. Before that, there was probably already a synagogue in the 14th century in the area of today's Löbergasse.

A synagogue was initially established in the manor house of the ducal domain estate in the street "Am Schloßberg". In 1819 the rooms used for this purpose were cancelled by the ducal chamber. Thereupon the services were held in a Jewish private house. 
In 1822 the Jewish community built a synagogue. It was destroyed in the great fire of Dreißigacker on May 13, 1867, to which 145 residential buildings fell victim. As a result, the exact location is unknown. The Jewish school was also completely destroyed in the fire of 1867. 

In 1880 the foundation stone for a new synagogue could be laid. The construction was financed by donations (see above report on the death of M. S. Falkenstein). Construction was supervised by Baurat Edwin Oppler from Hanover; he had shortly before built a synagogue in Hameln almost identical to the synagogue in Bleicherode. Master mason Schirmer from Bleicherode carried out the work. On June 1, 1882, the synagogue was consecrated by Professor Heidenheim, a rabbi from Bleicherode. The architecture was essentially characterized by neo-Romanesque forms.

A prayer hall or synagogue was originally located in a house called "Judenbau", which was originally an inn and was inhabited by Jewish families. In 1842 a synagogue was built and inaugurated in 1846. The synagogue was located in the northern part of the massive, two-story building, adjoining it on the first floor was the apartment of the teacher and prayer leader. On the second floor was the Jewish school. The prayer hall had a women's gallery on three sides.

At first there was probably a prayer hall. In 1852 an "old synagogue" and a school are mentioned. They were located in the immediate vicinity of the old Jewish residential area (at the Zehnthof). In 1854 a new synagogue with a schoolhouse next to it was built and solemnly consecrated in the same year. The Jewish community had to raise about 7,000 guilders for the representative building. Around 1860, 45 children were taught in the Jewish school. In the synagogue there was a Torah shrine with six Torah scrolls. During the November pogrom in 1938 the synagogue remained undestroyed.

In the 18th century a prayer hall was established in the area of the so-called "Judenbau". The synagogue is registered under No. 12 in the ... historical plan of Bauerbach.

In the 18th century a first synagogue was built, about which nothing else is known. It had become too small around 1840, so a new one was built in 1844/45, which was consecrated on September 19, 1845. In 1879 a part of the building was destroyed by fire. However, it was not necessary to renew the whole building and the synagogue was consecrated again on August 20, 1880. In the meantime, people prayed in a rented room. In 1904 and 1907 the synagogue was modernized, in the latter year electric lighting was introduced. In 1922 the community renewed the synagogue roof.

In the Middle Ages there was a synagogue on the property Judengasse 4 (probably today's Jüdengasse). It is not preserved.

Initially, a prayer room was probably established in one of the Jewish apartments. In 1738 a horse stable on the north side of the castle was converted into a first synagogue. For this an annual fee of 2 talers rent per congregation member was to be paid to the local lordship. On April 30, 1841, the synagogue burned down. The nearby bakehouse had gone up in flames, which also destroyed several neighboring buildings, including the Jewish school with the teacher's apartment. For almost 100 years this building served the Jewish community as a religious center.

The synagogue existing in the Middle Ages stood according to a report of 1521 "in the Erfurtische street, where anitzo the Bartolomäische rear building is' (meant: the property Erfurter street No. 17, rear house). It was probably a stone house, which also served as a dwelling for Jewish families.  On December 29, 1878 - after an assassination attempt and happy return of the German Emperor - a thanksgiving service took place. Teacher Ehrlich gave an address which included, "Merciful God and Father of all people.