Burghaslach
General information: First Jewish presence: mid-16th century; peak Jewish population: 254 in 1833: Jewish population in 1933: 73
Summary:
The Jews of Burghaslach established a prayer room in
1687, a synagogue in 1729, another synagogue in 1765
and a cemetery in 1775. Yet another house of worship
was inaugurated in 1870, on Neustaedter Strasse. We
also know that the synagogue housed a classroom for the
elementary school (operated 1859-1924), that the building
was renovated in 1929, and that the mikveh, which opened
in 1891, was restored in 1932.
In 1933, the 73 Jews of Burghaslach ran numerous
associations, including a Talmud Torah association, a
women’s organization, a chevra kadisha, a charitable society
and branches of several German-Jewish organizations. That
year, a teacher of religion instructed 15 schoolchildren. The
cemetery was desecrated in 1936 and in 1937.
On Pogrom Night, the synagogue’s interior, furniture
and ritual objects were destroyed; the building was partially
burned. All local Jews, including children, were detained in
a local inn (for two days) while their homes and businesses
were destroyed. Afterwards, three Jewish men spent several
days in the regional prison in Scheinfeld, The town’s
few remaining Jews left in February 1940. In total, 20
Burghaslach Jews emigrated and 45 relocated in Germany.
At least 52 Burghaslach Jews perished in the Shoah.
The synagogue was later converted into an apartment
building.
Author / Sources: Heike Zaun Goshen
Sources: AJ, EJL, PK-BAV, SG-B
Sources: AJ, EJL, PK-BAV, SG-B
Located in: bavaria