Gross-Bieberau
General information: First Jewish presence: early 18th century; peak Jewish population: 121 in 1828; Jewish population in 1933: 43
Summary:
The Jewish community of Gross-Bieberau built a
synagogue—with 34 seats for men, 18 for women—on
9 Hauptstrasse (present-day 9 Marktstrasse) in 1873. Local Jews employed a teacher of religion who also functioned
as chazzan and shochet, a position held by a teacher from
Reinheim after 1930. Burials were conducted in Dieburg
until 1891, when the Jews of Gross-Bieberau and Reinheim
consecrated a cemetery on Schaumbacher Berg.
In 1933, a women’s association, a men’s association (the
two were united in February 1933) and a joint branch
(maintained with Reinheim) of the Central Association
of German Citizens of Jewish Faith were active in the
community.
Although the synagogue had been sold to a local Christian
before Pogrom Night, SA troops, aided by 50-60 residents,
burned down the synagogue and looted Jewish homes that
night. Two men were sent to Buchenwald; one died shortly
after his release.
Eighteen local Jews emigrated—a married couple
managed to take the synagogue’s Torah scrolls with them to
Argentina—22 relocated within Germany and three passed
away in Gross-Bieberau. By December 1938, no Jews lived
there anymore.
At least 11 Gross-Bieberau Jews perished in the Shoah.
The synagogue ruins were demolished in 1939. A
memorial stone was unveiled at the site, now a parking lot,
in 1986.
Author / Sources: Heidemarie Wawrzyn
Sources: AJ, DJGH, EJL, PK-HNF, SIA
www.gross-bieberau.de
Sources: AJ, DJGH, EJL, PK-HNF, SIA
www.gross-bieberau.de
Located in: hesse