Hofheim

Summary: It was not until 1860 that Jews were permitted to settle in Hofheim. In 1920, the Jewish community merged with that of nearby Lendershausen, forming the Jewish community of Hofheim-Lendershausen. Hofheim’s synagogue (it housed a mikveh and a classroom) was established in 1920, when the Lendershausen synagogue closed down. The community employed a teacher who performed the duties of chazzan and shochet, and Jewish burials were conducted in Kleinsteinach. In 1933, four schoolchildren studied religion in Hofheim. A Jewish women’s association and a Chevras Bikur Cholim (society for visiting the sick) were still active in the community that year. Later, in 1934, local Nazis revived a blood libel allegation from 1929 (it had originated in nearby Manau) and used it as a pretext to arrest Jews in Hofheim and the surrounding areas; these Jews were imprisoned for several months. On Pogrom Night, a mob of local residents destroyed the synagogue’s furniture, ritual items and mikveh. Several Jews were arrested. All Jews left Hofheim between 1933 and 1940. Sixteen emigrated, 28 relocated within Germany and two, the last (both were from Lendershausen), were moved to Wuerzburg in April 1942, after which they were deported to Izbica. At least 12 Hofheim Jews and eight from Lendershausen were murdered in the Shoah. A memorial plaque was later unveiled at the town hall.

Author / Sources: Yaakov Borut
Sources: AJ, PK BAV