Neustadt an der Hardt

Summary: The 14th-century Jewish community of Neustadt an der Hardt was destroyed twice during the 1340s: after a blood libel allegation (in 1343) and during the Black Death pogroms (of 1348/49). Jews later resettled there, but it was not until the 19th century that the community experienced significant growth. In 1764, Neustadt’s existing synagogue was replaced by a new synagogue on Hintergasse. Later, in 1867, by which point the Hintergasse building was unable to accommodate the growing Jewish congregation, the Jews of Neustadt established another house of worship on Ludwigstrasse, next door to which they would later (in 1908) build a community center. The community also maintained an elementary school—it became a school for religious studies in 1830— whose teacher served as chazzan and shochet; a residential home for the elderly (founded in 1914); a mikveh; and a cemetery (consecrated in 1862). In 1933, 266 Jews lived in Neustadt. Approximately 47 children received religious instruction, and 40 elderly Jews lived in the old-age home. Several Jewish associations and branches of nation-wide Jewish organizations were active in the community. On Pogrom Night, the synagogue was burned down, as was the old-age home: two residents were killed by the flames, and several Jewish men were sent to Dachau. In March 1939, the municipality seized the destroyed sites, after which the ruins were cleared. Most Neustadt Jews left before the deportations began. On October 22, 1940, the remaining 22 Jews were sent to the concentration camp in Gurs, France. At least 33 Neustadt Jews perished in the Shoah. In 1950, a new Jewish community of Rheinland Pfalz was founded in Neustadt. The community established an old-age home, a prayer hall (both closed down in 1987) and a synagogue in the city of Kaiserslautern. A memorial stone was unveiled at the synagogue site in 1954. A new memorial stone was unveiled there in 1988 (the older stone was moved to the Jewish cemetery.)

Author / Sources: Yehoshua Ahrens
Sources: AJ, EJL, FJW