Butzweiler
General information: First Jewish presence: 1753 (one Jew); peak Jewish population: 93 in 1860; Jewish population in 1933: 50
Summary: Butzweiler Jews initially belonged to the Jewish community
of nearby Aach. The village’s Jews were recognized as a
partially independent community in 1846 and, in 1892, as
fully independent.
The community established a prayer hall in 1846, a
cemetery in 1865 and a synagogue—the building contained
a classroom and living quarters for a teacher—in 1892. We
also know that Butzweiler was home to a mikveh and a school
for religious studies, the latter of which was presided over
by a schoolteacher who performed the duties of chazzan
and shochet.
By 1925, the Jews of nearby Kordel, Ralingen and
Edingen had joined the Butzweiler community. Later, in
1932, the Jewish cemetery was desecrated.
On Pogrom Night, SA men and local residents broke
down the synagogue door, destroyed the interior of the
building, threw benches from the women’s balcony and—this
was done in the street—ripped apart the Torah scroll; Jewish
homes were ransacked and the cemetery was desecrated. The
following day, Jews were forced to leave the village and move
towards the Luxembourg border; they were not permitted
to cross, and many returned to Butzweiler.
In May 1939, 16 Jews were still living in Butzweiler. In
1943, the village’s last five Jews were deported to the East,
and 19 others were eventually deported from Trier. At least
50 Butzweiler Jews perished in the Shoah.
The former synagogue was used for various purposes after
the pogrom. The building was eventually converted into
a residential property, and a commemorative plaque was
erected there in 1988.
Author / Sources: Bronagh Bowerman
Sources: AJ, EJL, FJG
Sources: AJ, EJL, FJG
Located in: rhineland-palatinate