Boedigheim
General information: First Jewish presence: 1345; peak Jewish population: 119 in 1836; Jewish population in 1933: 14
Summary:
During the first half of the 18th century, this community’s
junior rabbi worked under the rabbinate in Heidingsfeld. In
1827, Boedigheim was assigned to the Merchingen district
rabinate. We also know that the community’s last rabbi,
Gedalja Metz, died in 1850. The community inaugurated its first synagogue in 1818;
two years after which the decision was made to build a new
house of worship. Construction was completed in 1828, and
the synagogue was consecrated in 1829 or 1830. The building
housed a classroom and living quarters for a teacher who
was also the community’s chazzan and shochet. Described
as one of the most beautiful synagogues in Mosbach, it was
renovated in 1911. The cemetery served over 30 Jewish
communities in the region.
Salomon Salm was the community leader at the beginning
of the Nazi period. On the morning of Pogrom Night, a
former policeman broke into the synagogue and smashed the
windows and furniture. The ritual objects and Torah scrolls
were saved because the congregation had earlier transferred
them to the Jewish High Council in Karlsruhe. Later that
day, SA broke into homes, destroyed properties and assaulted
Jewish residents. Six Jews were deported to Gurs in October,
1940. Only one child survived. At least nine Boedigheim
Jews were murdered in the Shoah.
The synagogue building served as a residence after the
war. The foundation stone bearing the original inscription
from 1828 is intact.
Author / Sources: Maren Cohen
Sources: AJ, EJL, PK-BW
Sources: AJ, EJL, PK-BW
Located in: baden-wuerttemberg