Old Synagogue (Erfurt) facts for kids
The Alte Synagoge (Old Synagogue) in Erfurt, Germany, is one of the oldest and best-preserved medieval synagogues in Europe. Its oldest parts were built in the late 11th century. Most of the building you see today was constructed between 1250 and 1320. Because its roof is still standing, it is believed to be the oldest synagogue building in Europe and possibly the world that is still intact.
Since 2009, the Old Synagogue has been a museum about local Jewish history. Inside, you can see the Erfurt Treasure. This is a collection of medieval coins, gold items, and jewelry found in 1998. The museum also has copies of the Erfurt Hebrew Manuscripts. These are important religious texts from the 12th to 14th centuries that belonged to Erfurt's Jewish community long ago.
The Old Synagogue in Erfurt is considered very important by experts. The Historic Synagogues of Europe project, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, gave it the highest rating. This means the building is extremely important for its architecture, its place in the city, and its history. It has special features and has influenced architecture around the world.
In 2023, the Old Synagogue, a Jewish ritual bath called a Mikveh, and a building known as the 'Stone House' were added to the World Heritage List. These sites in Erfurt's medieval city center were chosen because they are incredibly well-preserved. They show us what life was like for Jewish communities in the Middle Ages.
Quick facts for kids Old Synagogue, Erfurt |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Judaism |
| Rite | Nusach Ashkenaz |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Inactive |
| Status | Museum |
| Location | |
| Location | Erfurt,  Thuringia |
| Country |  Germany |
 Location in Thuringia
Location in Germany
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| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Synagogue |
| Architectural style | Romanesque, Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | c. 1094 |
| Completed | early 14th century |
| Official name: Jewish-Medieval Heritage of Erfurt | |
| Type: | Cultural |
| Criteria: | iv |
| Designated: | 2023 (45th session) |
| Reference #: | 1656 |
Contents
History of the Old Synagogue
The oldest parts of the Old Synagogue were built in 1094. Scientists used a method called dendrochronology, which studies tree rings, to figure out this exact date. In the 12th century, more construction happened. Part of the western wall, with a special double-arched window made of sandstone, is still left from that time.
Around 1270, a larger synagogue was built. It used parts of the older building. The western side, which has five tall, narrow windows and a big round window, comes from this period. In the early 1300s, the building was made even bigger, and another floor was added.
Changes After the Erfurt Massacre
In 1349, a terrible event known as the Erfurt Massacre took place. Many Jewish people were killed or forced to leave the city. The synagogue was damaged during this time. The city of Erfurt took over the building and later sold it to a local merchant. It was then changed into a warehouse, and a new basement was built underneath. These changes greatly altered the inside of the building. For the next 500 years, it was used to store goods.
From the 19th century onwards, the building was used for many different things. At various times, it was a ballroom, a restaurant, and even had two bowling alleys. Because of these changes, and changes to the buildings around it, the Old Synagogue was mostly forgotten. It is located on a back lot down a narrow alley. People didn't realize its historical importance. This lack of recognition actually helped protect it during the Nazi period, when many synagogues were destroyed.
Rediscovery and Preservation Efforts
Interest in the old building began again in the late 1980s. An expert in architecture, Elmar Altwasser, started researching it in 1992. The Erfurt City Council bought the property in 1998. They then did a lot of research and carefully preserved the building.
Experts made sure to keep all signs of how the building was used over time. This included its original use as a synagogue and all the changes made later. Because of this careful work, you can still see both the medieval parts and the newer additions clearly today.
In 2007, archaeologists made an exciting discovery. They found a very old and well-preserved Jewish ritual bath, called a Mikveh, dating from around 1250. It was found not far from the Old Synagogue, near Erfurt's Krämerbrücke (Merchants' Bridge). Visitors have been able to see the mikveh on guided tours since 2011.
Old Synagogue Museum
The Old Synagogue officially opened as a museum on October 27, 2009.
Erfurt Treasure Display
The museum's main exhibit is the Erfurt Treasure. This amazing collection includes 3,141 silver coins, weighing about 24 kilograms (53 pounds). It also has over 700 pieces of gold jewelry and other items made by goldsmiths. It is believed that Jewish people hid these valuable items during the Erfurt Massacre in 1349. The entire collection weighs almost 30 kilograms (66 pounds). It was found in 1998 inside the wall of a house at Michaelisstraße 43. This house was in a medieval Jewish neighborhood, close to the Synagogue. The Erfurt Treasure has been shown in famous cities like Berlin, Paris, London, New York, and Tel Aviv.
Erfurt Hebrew Manuscripts
The museum also displays copies of the Erfurt Hebrew Manuscripts. These are very important religious texts from the 12th to 14th centuries. After the Erfurt Massacre, these manuscripts became the property of the Erfurt City Council. In the late 1600s, they ended up in the library of a church ministry. This ministry was located at Erfurt's former Augustinian Monastery. In 1880, the ministry sold them to the Royal Library in Berlin, which is now the Berlin State Library. The original manuscripts are kept there today.
The Erfurt Tosefta
One of the most special Erfurt Manuscripts is the Tosefta. This is part of a collection of Jewish oral law. It is believed to have been put together by Jewish scholars called tannaim, who lived in Palestine from about 0 AD to 200 AD. While not all experts agree, it is generally thought that the Tosefta helps explain parts of the Mishnah. The Mishnah is the main book of Jewish legal theory.
Copies of the Tosefta were very rare. The Erfurt Tosefta, from the 12th century, is the oldest of only three known Tosefta manuscripts in the world. The other two are the Vienna Tosefta, from the late 13th century, kept at the Austrian National Library, and the London Tosefta, from the 15th century, kept at the British Library.
Moses Samuel Zuckermandl was the first person to highlight how important the Erfurt Tosefta was. He wrote a major study about it in German in 1876.
Other Synagogues in Erfurt
Erfurt has been home to other synagogues over the centuries.
The Kleine Synagoge (Small Synagogue) was built in 1840. It was used until 1884. This building was restored in 1998 and is now used for events. It has a classic architectural style.
In 1884, the Jewish community built the Große Synagoge (Great Synagogue). This was a beautiful building designed in the Moorish Revival style. Sadly, it was destroyed during the Nazi Kristallnacht riots on the night of November 9–10, 1938.
In 1947, the land where the Great Synagogue stood was returned to the Jewish community by the Erfurt City Council. The Neue Synagoge (New Synagogue) was built on this site and opened on August 31, 1952. The government of East Germany (GDR) paid for this new building. It was the only completely new synagogue ever built in that country.
The New Synagogue is still used for worship by the Jewish community in Erfurt today. In April 2000, a group of neo-Nazis set it on fire.
See also
- History of the Jews in Germany
- Oldest synagogues in the world
