Erfurt is the capital and largest city of Thuringia, a state in central Germany. It is in the wide valley of the river Gera, in the southern part of the Thuringian Basin, north of the Thuringian Forest, and in the middle of a line of the six largest Thuringian cities, stretching from Eisenach in the west, via Gotha, Erfurt, Weimar, and Jena, to Gera in the east, near Germany’s geographic center. Erfurt is located 100 kilometers south-west of Leipzig, 250 kilometers northeast of Frankfurt, 300 kilometers southwest of Berlin, and 400 kilometers north of Munich.
Located in the heart of the Old Town of Erfurt in Thuringia, the Jewish-Medieval Heritage of Erfurt comprises the Old Synagogue, the Mikveh, and the Stone House, which are rare and exceptionally preserved examples of Central European Jewish buildings that illustrate, in their built fabric, architectural details, and decoration program, the adaptation to the town’s specific spatial and social conditions and the coexistence of a Jewish community with a predominantly Christ. The property provides insight into the heyday of a Jewish population involved in trade and exchanges in Central Europe throughout the Middle Ages, between the late 11th and mid-14th century CE, until the Black Death wave of pogroms.
The city is located on the Via Regia, a medieval trade and pilgrimage road network. Modern Erfurt serves as a hub for ICE high-speed trains and other German and European transportation networks. Erfurt was first mentioned in 742, when Saint Boniface established the diocese. Despite not being politically affiliated with any of the Thuringian states, the town swiftly became the region’s economic capital and a member of the Hanseatic League. It was part of the Electorate of Mainz during the Holy Roman Empire before joining the Kingdom of Prussia in 1802. From 1949 to 1990, Erfurt was part of the German Democratic Republic (East Germany).
The Old Synagogue, Mikveh, and Stone House in Erfurt are early and uncommon examples of Jewish religious and secular architecture from the Middle Ages in Central Europe. The buildings demonstrate compliance with vernacular design and adaptation to local conditions, reflecting coexistence with a primarily Christian community and the height of Jewish life in Central Europe’s medieval Erfurt until the wave of pogroms in the mid-14th century.
The Jewish heritage sites in Erfurt have a long history, but until recently, they were mainly neglected. Following the Jewish people of Erfurt’s expulsion from the city due to pogroms in the 14th century, the Old Synagogue was utilized as a storeroom before transitioning into a restaurant and dancing venue. Only in 1988 was its historical significance rediscovered and proven. Only in 2007 was the ceremonial bath’s historical and cultural significance acknowledged after decades of use as a cellar filled in.
Unique constructional testimonies of the prominent Jewish community from the late 11th to the mid-14th century have been preserved in Erfurt’s mostly intact medieval Old Town. This synthetic evidence is supplemented and enhanced by a globally unparalleled wealth of authentic items. Together, they provide unique insights into Jewish community and daily life, as well as the coexistence of Jews and Christians in medieval cities, as deeply and comprehensively documented as at no other known site.
“The inclusion of Erfurt’s Jewish-mediaeval heritage as a new and second Jewish site on the UNESCO World Heritage list makes another important contribution to making the shared roots of Jews and Christians in Germany and Europe visible and preserving them for the future.” – says Kerstin Puschel, Germany’s ambassador to UNESCO.
Erfurt welcomes back Jews
Soon after, most likely in 1354, Jews once more settled in Erfurt. For the expanding community, the Erfurt Council commissioned a synagogue to be built behind the town hall between 1355 and 1357. The Jews still shared many of the same quarters, but they now primarily resided in rented “Jews houses” in the city.
This second settlement also included a few very powerful and affluent families involved in international finance and trade. Many of the poorer Jews made their living through commerce, pawnbroking, and shofar manufacturing. Anti-Jewish feeling in Erfurt was on the rise in the fifteenth century. The Jews’ protection was terminated by the local council in 1453, at which point the Jews all left the town. Jews were no longer allowed in Erfurt starting in 1454. The cemetery was destroyed, the synagogue was turned into an armoury, and the Jewish homes were sold.
In Erfurt, there had been no formal Jewish community until the council expelled them in 1453 during the Napoleonic Wars. Following its accession to the French Empire, the Principality of Erfurt was governed by the Napoleonic code, a set of French civil rules that allowed for freedom of residence and was formulated in 1804. The first Jewish citizen of Erfurt in contemporary times was David Salomon Unger. A village was reestablished and flourished quickly in the 19th century.
Old Synagogue
The Old Synagogue is the oldest synagogue in Central Europe that has been fully maintained, with portions dating back to the eleventh century. Here, in 2009, a museum was established to showcase artifacts from the medieval Erfurt Jewish community.
The history of Erfurt’s earliest Jewish community is chronicled in the museum housed in the Old Synagogue. Gravestones from the demolished medieval cemetery can be found in the courtyard. The ground floor’s topic is the synagogue’s architectural history. The riches that a Jew concealed during the 1349 pogrom near the synagogue is kept in the cellar. Upstairs, the Erfurt Hebrew Manuscripts are discussed.
Jewish Cemetery in Medieval Times
The Jewish cemetery in Erfurt was situated in the Middle Ages near Moritztor. It’s likely that burials have taken place there since the community’s founding. The 13th century gravestones are the oldest that have survived to this day. The cemetery was demolished in 1453, and a municipal barn and then a sizable granary were built in its stead. The gravestones are still occasionally seen in buildings or pavement since they were used as building materials across the town. In 1996, a memorial stone was built in remembrance of the cemetery. Discussions of reopening the cemetery have been going on since 2000, and actualization of this plan began in 2007.
Mikveh
The mikveh has been documented from the middle of the thirteenth century. It demonstrates that the Jewish community was required to pay fees for the land and ritual bath-first to the bishop and then to the city of Erfurt. The mikveh’s surroundings were heavily inhabited, according to the medieval tax lists.
Hebrew Manuscripts from Erfurt
The significance of the medieval Jewish community is demonstrated by the Erfurt Hebrew Manuscripts. More manuscripts from any other community have been conserved than those from the 12th and 14th centuries, totalling fifteen. In addition to the four Torah scrolls, a machzor and four Hebrew Bibles have also been bequeathed.
It is likely that the manuscripts ended up in the possession of the Erfurt Council during the pogrom. Some of the books were sold soon after, while others were held by the city until the 17th century. It is unclear how they came to be in the Augustinian Monastery’s library of the Evangelical Ministry. In 1880, the Ministry sold them to the Berlin Royal Library, which is now the Berlin State Library.
And last, Erfurt’s legacy offers an enthralling illustration of the world’s immense beauty and cultural diversity. The unique fusion of history, breathtaking scenery, and lively customs creates an immersive experience that is above and beyond the norm. This enchanted place is revealed in fresh ways around every corner, leaving you with enduring memories and tales to share. So, gather your belongings, embrace your sense of history, and prepare to be enthralled with the glories of Erfurt’s Jewish legacy.
Happy Travels!
References:
- The times of Israel. UNESCO names Erfurt’s medieval Jewish buildings in Germany as World Heritage Site [ online ]
Available at: UNESCO names Erfurt’s medieval Jewish buildings in Germany as World Heritage Site | The Times of Israel - JGuide Europe. The cultural guide to Jewish Europe [ online ]
Available at: Erfurt – jewish heritage, history, synagogues, museums, areas and sites to visit (jguideeurope.org)
