Rosenthal

Summary: The Jewish population of Rosenthal, a small village, never really flourished. Most local Jews were cattle traders, and had surnames that began with “Rosen.” In 1857, the community established a synagogue, a school for religious studies and a cemetery. In Rosenthal, the teacher of religion served as cantor and shochet. Anti-Semitism was rampant in Rosenthal during the 1880s, and many Jews were assaulted on the streets. In 1933, as was the case throughout Germany, Jews began to leave Rosenthal, some for Frankfurt and some for the United States. In May of 1938, the community was dissolved and the synagogue left to the whims of the Christian locals (who sold what they could to a furniture manufacturer). On Pogrom Night, the synagogue was pillaged and its interior wrecked. Today, the site accommodates a furniture factory and an apartment building. As of this writing, a memorial has ever been erected in Rosenthal.

Author / Sources: Moshe Finkel
Sources: AJ, DJGH, SIA