New Synagogue Mainz – What is missing?

What is missing? It is easy to talk about something that is still there. You are standing in front of the New Synagogue in Mainz. It was built in the year 2010. And it is the new centre for Mainz’ jewish community.

But what was here before? What did jewish life look like in the Middle Ages? Unlike  the SchUM-cities Worms or Speyer, Mainz does not have any jewish architecture from this period left. Why? It was destroyed in attacks and pogromes. For instance in the first Crusade in 1096. More than 1000 people were killed in Mainz. Yet the jewish community perservered. But the National Socialists destroyed the synagoge that had been built in 1912. You can still see some of it: the columns on the square belonged to the old synagoge.

But how do you tell the story of something that is missing? By letting the new building talk about what once was. Here it is the architecture of the New Synagogue that speaks about the past. Because this past forms the basis of what is here today and what the future will be built on.

Visit the New Synagogue

It is possible to visit the inside of the synagogue. To visit you need to prebook. Inside you will discover a unique space, adorned with myriad hebrew letters and small texts. Guided tours are available here https://www.jgmainz.de