In 2008, following an earlier suggestion by Paul Spiegel, then President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, the Essen City Council decided to transform the Old Synagogue into a “House of Jewish Culture.” A new permanent exhibition was conceived, and the building refurbished. Two new exhibition levels were made accessible, and the offices […]
Approaching the former state – reconstruction of the interior
In 1986, the Torah roll shrine, the women’s gallery, and the tracery of the windows were reconstructed according to historical photographs; the false ceiling was removed and hanging lamps replicated: The architecture once again became visible to some extent. In Essen, as in all of Germany, the number of Jews increased fourfold after 1989 due […]
The Old Synagogue becomes a “memorial site”
In 1980, following a fire in the industrial design exhibition, the Old Synagogue was established as a “place of remembrance and commemoration.” A first exhibition on the theme of “resistance against fascism” was presented, albeit without reference to the history of the building. The first director, however, established contacts with Jewish emigrants, whom the city […]