Langerwehe
General information: First Jewish presence: 17th century; peak Jewish population: 57 in 1895; Jewish population in 1933: 46
Summary: The Jews of Langerwehe conducted religious services in the
community shochet’s home at 123 Hauptstrasse; in 1874, the
house was enlarged to accommodate a modest synagogue
with a women’s balcony and separate entrances for men and
women. A Jewish cemetery was located on the outskirts of
town.
The Langerwehe Jews belonged to the regional Jewish
community of Dueren. Jews from nearby towns attended the
Hauptstrasse synagogue, and in 1828 Langerwehe became
Dueren’s largest Jewish congregation. In Langerwehe, local
Jews were known for organizing charitable activities that
benefited the entire town.
On Pogrom Night, rioters destroyed the synagogue’s
interior, tearing down the gallery and looting furniture
and its other contents. The building was forcibly sold a few
months after the pogrom; destroyed by artillery fire during
the war, it was later rebuilt.
At least 22 Langerwehe Jews perished in the camps. A
memorial plaque was unveiled in the town in 1999.
Author / Sources: Ruth Martina Trucks
Sources: EJL, LJG, SG-NRW
Sources: EJL, LJG, SG-NRW
Located in: north-rhine-westphalia