District supports synagogue in Harmuth Saxony with 10,000 euros!

District supports synagogue in Harmuth Saxony with 10,000 euros!

In a significant step to promote the culture of remembrance, the district administrator of the Werra-Meißner district, Nicole Rathgeber, handed over a grant agreement worth 10,000 euros to the “Friends of Jewish Life in the Werra-Meißner district” association on July 13, 2025. This support is intended for the ongoing maintenance and operation of the former synagogue in Harmuthsaxony, which was acquired in February 2024. Dr. Martin Arnold, the association's chairman, highlighted the need for financial resources to cover essential costs such as electricity and waste. This funding shows how serious those responsible are about preserving and revitalizing Jewish life, which has returned to Germany despite the shadows of the past.

The district made funds available early in the 2024 and 2025 budgets to safeguard the cultural heritage of the Jewish community. The synagogue, which was externally secured in 2003, had long suffered from the lack of an agreement with the previous owner. Thanks to the commitment of the association and the Harmuthsachsen Synagogue Support Group, another step is now being taken in the right direction. The planned conversion of the synagogue, the Jewish school and the teacher's house into a memorial and meeting place shows the effort to make Jewish life visible again for future generations.

Progress and plans

At the handover, District Administrator Rathgeber expressed positive comments about the progress that has been made since the synagogue was purchased. The association plans to set up a museum for Jewish regional history in the teachers' house and to use the unique location for cultural events. Fortunately, the first concerts have already taken place in the synagogue, which brings the residents of Harmuthsaxony and the surrounding area together and promotes intercultural exchange.

Dr. In addition to the district, Arnold also thanked the city of Waldkappel, the State Office for Monument Preservation and other private supporters for their valuable support of this initiative. It shows that the will to preserve and reprocess Jewish life is actively practiced not only in the Werra-Meißner district, but throughout Germany. Despite the pervasive challenges such as anti-Semitism that still exist in our society, it is important to preserve stories and make Jewish identity visible.

A look into the past and into the future

Today's revitalization of Jewish life in Germany is part of a long and grueling process that is still ongoing 75 years after the Holocaust. Anti-Semitism is reflected not only in old prejudices, but also in new, worrying developments. A frightening example is the attack on the synagogue in Halle in 2019, which once again raises awareness of how important it is for society to stand together. Jewish communities were able to gain new impetus, especially after the immigration of over 200,000 Jews from Eastern Europe in the 1990s. Nevertheless, the dialogue between the ideas of the Jewish population and German society remains a challenge that must be mastered.

Through projects for educational work critical of anti-Semitism and interreligious dialogue, attempts are made to counteract the problem and create respectful coexistence. Given that the Tamar Jewish daycare center in Hanover is the first of its kind since the Shoah, the return of Jewish life in Germany is a multifaceted process that must be supported.

The efforts of the Werra-Meißner Circle and the Association for the Preservation of the Synagogue in Harmuth Saxony are symbolic not only of the preservation of history, but also of the hope for a common, positive future for everyone. Links to information about supporting and preserving Jewish life in Germany can be found here: Werra Rundschau, Abterode Synagogue and NDR.