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Home , Aalen, Bopfingen, Ederheim, Ellwangen, Lauchheim, Maihingen

Museum of the History of in the Ostalb Region in the former in -Oberdorf

Felix Sutschek - Bernhard Hildebrand Catalog Foreword

When we founded the Support Association for Von Weizsäcker’s statement provided both the Regarding the contents of the museum, I should the former synagogue in Oberdorf in 1989, our motivation and guiding principle for our Sup- like to draw attention to a few especially impor- first major task was to purchase the building, port Association when designing and furnishing tant areas: at the time used as a store for tools and equip- the Museum of the History of Jews in the Ostalb ment, and then to refurbish the synagogue as Region in the former synagogue in Oberdorf. Peaceful coexistence of Jews and Christians in a memorial and meeting place. With substan- The Museum was opened in the autumn of East Württemberg prior to the Nazi tyranny tial assistance from the Ostalb District Coun- 1997. However, apart from tours conducted by cil, the State of Baden-Württemberg, Bopfin- knowledgeable guides, we were only able to offer The presentation of the history of Jews in our gen Town Council, and generous donations the many interested visitors to the museum leaf- area shows that Christians and Jews in Ober- from our members and friends, we were able to lets giving brief information­ about the Synago- dorf as well as other nearby towns and villages restore the synagogue, built by the Jewish com- gue, the Support Association, and the Museum. with Jewish populations, with few isolated ex- Imprint munity in 1744, to its former dignity and to The comprehensive­ museum catalog that we en- ceptions, lived and worked peacefully together some extent to its original beauty. visaged at that time had to be postponed, becau- over many generations. Museum of the History of Jews in the Ostalb Region se the association was entirely dependent on do- in the former synagogue in Bopfingen-Oberdorf The Memorial and Meeting Place in the for- nations and membership subscriptions and there From the enactment of equal rights in the mid- mer synagogue was opened in November 1993. was simply not enough money available. nineteenth century, there were Jews in many Catalog Since then many thousands of people have visi- professions including judges, prosecutors, at- ted the former synagogue, among them many Thanks to generous donations, among others torneys, doctors, members of parliament and Published by the Trägerverein ehemalige Synagoge Oberdorf e.V., young people and numerous relatives of Jews from the Rotary Club and the Lions town councilors. As full German citizens Jews Chairman: Dr. Diethelm Winter who once lived in Oberdorf from the USA, Is- Club Ostalb-Ipf and , we are delighted played their part in the successful development rael and Great Britain. that we are now able to realize our long-term of East Württemberg. Original text: project of a “Museum Catalog”. Felix Sutschek M. A. In his memorable speech on the 40th anni- The Museum in Oberdorf is a museum for Dr. Bernhard Hildebrand versary of the end of the Second World War, Years ago Felix Sutschek M.A. and Dr. Bern- the whole Ostalb Region Richard von Weizsäcker made the follow- hard Hildebrand established and developed the Translation: ing statement: “It is not a matter of coming to Museum of the History of Jews in the Ostalb With individual displays concerning the histo- John Saniter, B.Sc., C.Eng. terms with the past, that is in no way possible, Region in the former synagogue in Oberdorf, ry of the Jewish communities in Ellwangen, it cannot be changed in retrospect or undone. on the basis of very careful research into local Schwäbisch Gmünd, and Pflaum- Proofreading: But anyone who closes their eyes to the past will Jewish history. Through their commitment and loch, the Oberdorf Museum reaches out far be- Richard von der Heyde, Hadwiga Micheli end up blind to the present. Those who cannot numerous activities, they have long been closely yond just the presentation of the immediate lo- face remembering inhumanity will be suscepti- associated with our Support Association. Now cal history. Layout and design: ble to new risks of infection. The Jewish people they are also the competent authors of our mu- Dr. Bernhard Hildebrand remember and will always remember. As human seum catalog. Moving memorials to victims of the Nazi beings we seek reconciliation. And for precisely regime First published in German 2004 this reason we must understand that there can Our relatively small museum has a great deal to Published in English 2013 be no reconciliation without remembrance.” offer, which many visitors over the years have Panels in the museum record the names of experienced as interesting, inspiring and mo- the men, women and children who were de- ISBN 3-00-013584-7 ving. The new museum catalog can now be ported from Oberdorf to concentration camps used to advantage to prepare, accompany and in Riga, Izbica, Auschwitz and Theresienstadt Printed in Supported ba the Kreisparkasse Ostalb review visits to the museum. in the years 1941/42, and murdered there.

3 Contents

For their relatives, and for those of us who donations. We hope that the new Museum History of the Jews in the Ostalb Region 7 remember them and do not want to forget, it Catalog will be equally well received by our is important that all those who have no final members, friends and the many visitors to the Catalog resting place now have, in the list of their first museum. The catalog seeks to inform as well and family names, their date of birth, and as as to encourage reflection on the causes and Former synagogue in Oberdorf 18 far as is known the date and place of their de- effects of anti-Semitism, and to strengthen the Inscriptions of the former synagogue in Oberdorf 20 ath, a place of honor for all time in the Memo- efforts of many people to engage personally in Torah scrolls of the synagogue in Oberdorf 22 rial and Meeting Place in the former synago- the fight against all forms of anti-Semitism. Jews in Germany 24 gue in Oberdorf. Jews in the imperial towns 25 Dr. Diethelm Winter Jews in the County of Oettingen 26 Heimann Torah scroll returned to its place of Retired Head of the District Administration The First protected Jews in Oberdorf 28 origin Chairman of the Support Association Jewish community in Oberdorf 30 2. Display cabinet showing Jewish history Jewish community in the 19th and 20th centuries 34 The objects in the museum that stem from the Organization of the Jewish community 36 old Oberdorf synagogue have great spiritual House of eternity: The Jewish cemetery 38 value. They were rescued from destruction on The Jewish population 40 11 November 1938 by the courageous actions Commerce – Trade – Industry 42 of both Jews and Christians alike, when the in- Oberdorf personalities 44 terior was ransacked by SA thugs from outside German Jews in 46 the town. The Third Reich 48 Oberdorf in the Third Reich 50 Of the 17 Torah scrolls in the old synagogue, Boycott 51 the Heimann Torah is the only one known Protective custody 52 to have survived. Karl Heiman donated this Occupational ban – Dissolution of the community 53 Torah scroll to us. It accompanied his family Murder – Emigration 54 when they fled Germany in 1939. Thus in our Deportation and extermination 56 museum it takes pride of place as a link bet- 3. View of the interior Victims 58 ween the old Jewish place of worship and our Traces of Jewish history in the Ostalb region 62 Memorial and Meeting Place in the refurbis- Jewish community in Aufhausen 64 hed former synagogue. Jewish community in Ellwangen 66 Jewish community in Schwäbisch Gmünd 67 I should like to thank Felix Sutschek M.A., Jewish community in Lauchheim 68 Cultural Affairs’ Officer, and Dr. Bernhard Jewish community in Pflaumloch 70 Hildebrand, District Archivist, for this very in- teresting and attractive Museum Catalog; my Appendix thanks also to Konrad Theiss and the Ellwan- gen Rotary Club for taking the initiative and Photo credits 73 financially supporting this successful project, References 74 to the Lions Club Ostalb-Ipf and Aalen, and to Display cabinet with religious artifacts 75 Torsten Gaiser of Gaiser Offsetdruck for their 1. Display cabinet in the museum 4. Torah scroll and religious artifacts Eternal light 76

4 5 History of the Jews in the Ostalb Region Felix Sutschek

First Jewish settlements in the Situation of the Jews from the 11th to 16th or was accompanied, of course, by the personal centuries obligation to pay the emperor a sum of mo- Jews have been living in the German area lon- ney for this protection. When money was short ger than in any other part of Europe with the In many newly founded towns in the 11th and these revenues from the Jews’ seignorage could exception of . Jews were first mentioned in 12th centuries Jews were welcome. Above all be ceded by the emperor to towns or local ru- Germany in a letter from Emperor Constan- merchants’ families were readily admitted be- lers. Thus the Jews were tolerated because they tine to the then Roman town of in cause they offered the promise of links to ex- constituted an economic benefit to the owner 321 A.D. This letter decreed that Jews could be ternal trade. However doctors and pharmacists of their seignorage. They literally became “mo- admitted to the curia and the town regiment. were also welcomed. bile commodities”.6 This is the oldest document recording the exi- stence of a Jewish community in Germany.1 It A difficult time for the Jews began with the In 1342 the Wittelsbach Emperor Ludwig the is likely that at the time there were also Jewish start of the Crusades. In 1096, at the time of Bavarian (1314 – 1347) introduced a new tax communities in the other towns founded by the first Crusade, many Jews were murdered by on Jews which subsequently became known as the Romans along the , Mosel and Da- fanatical crusaders because they refused to be the “golden sacrificial penny”. The emperor de- nube. baptized.4 creed that “each Jew… who is 12 years old and worth 20 gulden, any and all shall give one gul- Between the 5th and 7th centuries many sour- Fundamental changes to the lives of the Jews den every year as interest on their person”.7 ces attest to Jews living in the territories of the stemmed from the 4th Lateran Council in Franconian kings as entrepreneurs, merchan- 1215 under Pope Innocent III. Resolutions In our region Jews are mentioned for the first ts, land owners, customs officials, doctors and were passed that aimed to isolate and humili- time in 1241 in Bopfingen and Schwäbisch masters of the mint.2 ate the Jews. As a result Jews were required to Gmünd. The imperial tax register for that year wear a mark of identification on their clothes shows that the Jews in Gmünd paid a tax of Charlemagne (768 – 814) offered protection when they were in public, to indicate that they 12 silver marks while the Jews in Bopfingen to the Jews so they could pursue their religi- were Jewish, such as a yellow spot or later the and Donauwörth together paid 2 silver marks.8 ous, cultural and economic affairs. They were pointed Jewish hat. They were also excluded From this one can conclude that the Jewish allowed to acquire property and bear weapons. from becoming guild members, and were for- community of Bopfingen was evidently much In return for this protection, Jews had to pay bidden to farm. Thus, besides trade, they were smaller than that of Gmünd. Nothing else is a tenth of their annual trading profits to the only allowed to pursue occupations forbidden known about the Jewish community in Bop- king. The king could also give away or pledge to Christians by church law, such as moneylen- fingen at the time. However we can infer that 5. Former synagogue in Bopfingen-Oberdorf this revenue. From the beginning of the Caro- ding and pawnbroking.5 the community had a prayer room and was lingian era to the extermination of German Je- probably allowed to use the facilities of the Je- wry in the 20th century, Jews have always lived In 1236 the Emperor Frede- wish community in Nördlingen. in Germany.3 The development of the Jewish rick II granted the Jews in his realm a conces- language, Yiddish, probably dates from the sion. The newly established legal system ai- Soon after settling here the Jews were to be beginning of the 9th century along the Rhi- med to end the legal uncertainty in which Jews subjected to horrific events. Due to the alleged ne. This hybrid language is composed of Ger- then lived. Due to their increased need of pro- “defilement of the sacrament” by Jews in Röt- manic, Latin and Hebrew elements. Later on, tection, they were assigned to the Emperor’s tingen in 1298, the nobleman Rintfleisch felt when some Jews migrated to Eastern Europe, “chamber” as servants, thereby becoming the called by God to annihilate Jewish communi- elements of various other East European lan- direct property of the emperor. This exceptio- ties with his marauding troops, first in Franco- guages were assimilated into it. nal status as “chamber servants” to the emper- nia and later in .9 In Ellwangen the “Jew

6 7 killers” beat to death the scholar Uri, son of Bopfingen and Schwäbisch Gmünd also star- nual tax was 6 gulden, which he had to pay Many other towns also expelled their Jews. In Rural Jewry protection under which Jews were classed as Jakob, his five sons, his sister and three ted to admit Jews again. Do these sources by Michaelmas. His activities were governed in Schwäbisch Gmünd in 1498, Emperor Maxi- “chamber servants”, which was a royal prero- other Jews. contain any details about the everyday life of the contract as follows: he was to receive 3.4 % milian I settled a dispute between the town and Rural Jewry in Swabia developed after the ex- gative, was now replaced by a right of econo- the Jews? Although the documents are main- interest for loans but was not allowed to lend its Jews. The emperor decreed that the Jews un- pulsion of the Jews from the major towns mic significance. Thus it is possible that, even In 1348/49 the Black Death raged across ly about legal transactions between Jews and on chalices, chasubles, books, wet skins, un- der the protection of the town must pay taxes. and cities, and their settlement under protec- before the expulsion of Jews from the towns, wide swathes of Europe. This was a hitherto Christians we will try to see if they also shed printed cloth, wool or citizens’ arms. On cele- However, as to their profession as moneylen- tion in our case in the lands of the Counts of some Jews had already settled in Pflaumloch unknown plague, and the population was to- light on any other aspects of Jewish life. bration days he was not to be compelled to go ders, it was further stipulated that they were Oettingen. and Wallerstein under the protection of the tally at its mercy. However the term Black De- to court or make business transactions. But- not allowed to lend money to the citizens of Counts of Oettingen. ath is also used to describe the persecution of On 9 November 1480 the town of Schwäbisch chers were required to sell him the requested Gmünd. It was also forbidden to lend mo- Emperor Ludwig IV of already permit- Jews, which accompanied this pestilence. The Gmünd took the Jew Simon from “kosher” meat. He was also permitted to use ney against real estate and Church property. ted the Counts of Oettingen to take in Jews Let us now return to the eviction of Jews from Jews were accused of having poisoned the wells under its protection for five years. In return Si- the bath house, however only with advance Such financial restrictions made life almost im- and tax them. In the charter signed in Nurem- Nördlingen. We can assume that some of the thus bringing about the plague. In remem- mon agreed to pay the annual town taxes. The notice and after the Christians had taken their possible for the Jews.16 Despite this, the town berg on 30 May 1331, it states that all Jews al- Jews who were expelled from Nördlingen in brance of the many Jews killed, their names letter of protection states that at that time the baths.14 went a step further and on 24 February 1501, ready settled on the Count’s lands, who travel 1507 may also have settled in Oberdorf in the were inscribed in so-called Jewish “memori- town would not permit any other Jews invol- against payment of a large sum of money, Em- to him or settle there should do so for “their lands of the Counts of Oettingen. In the Jewish al books”. They also record the names of the ved in moneylending to settle there. Thus Si- The expulsion of Jews from towns. From the peror Maximilian I issued an order from Nu- own benefit with all rights, privileges and good expulsion order, the Nördlingen town council places where the Jews were murdered, which mon had a privileged position in Gmünd. He outset of rural Jewry to the start of the Thir- remberg permitting the expulsion of Jews from practices”.20 had failed to stipulate that Jews were not al- in the Ostalb region were Bopfingen, Ellwan- was also allowed to take on other Jews but had ty Years’ War. the town and its territory and stating that the- lowed to settle within a radius of two leagues gen and Schwäbisch Gmünd. Undoubtedly to pay tax for them. Furthermore he was per- re was no obligation to accept any Jews in the Thus, for the first time, the emperor transfer- (about 15 km) from Nördlingen and there was the death of the Jews would not have been in- mitted to employ a cantor for his family and From the second half of the 15th century on- next ten years. All the privileges which the Jews red to the Counts of Oettingen the right to all no binding agreement with the Counts of Oe- opportune for some. Many craftsmen, farmers, servants. wards the social and economic situation of had hitherto enjoyed were annulled.17 Finally taxes on the Jews resident in the county as im- ttingen; nor was there any understanding re- towns, monasteries and even noblemen had Jews in towns became more and more difficu- in 1521 Emperor Charles V decreed that no perial chamber servants, to which he was legal- garding the possible settlement of Jews on their debts to the Jews, which were now wiped out.10 The interest rates were also regulated by the lt. Many people got into economic difficulties Jews could settle in the territories of Schwä- ly entitled. In 1333 Emperor Ludwig IV rene- territory. letter of protection. While the interest rates for due to their debts to Jews. And following the bisch Gmünd nor trade there. This ban re- wed this privilege.21 While nothing is known of any Jews living in local people were kept low, there were no bin- Council of 1534, the clergy also warned mained in force until the 19th century.18 There is no firm proof that any Jews lived in Bopfingen in the following years, a Jew called ding rates for outsiders. He was forbidden, ho- against Jewish usury, which was prohibited by On 16 October 1347, King Charles IV ce- Oberdorf prior to 1507. However it is known Mosse from Bopfingen and his brother-in-law wever, to conduct his business before the “early the Church. The imperial town of Nördlingen paid 1000 ded to Count Albrecht of Oettingen, in reco- that in 1514 there were “two new Jewish set- are mentioned in Nördlingen in 1357, and a Jew mass” or in the evening after the “watch bells”. gulden for the “right” to expel its Jews, an en- gnition of his services, all rights over the Jews tlements in Flochberg and Oberdorf”.24 In called Seckelmann from Bopfingen in Tauberbi- Furthermore he was not allowed to lend mo- Because of the newly founded Christian tra- ormous amount of money at the time. In re- employed at his castles.22 In December of the 1578 the “Jewish alley” in Oberdorf is men- schofsheim in 1378. From time to time during ney with a citizen’s weapons as security. David, ding houses, people were no longer dependent turn Emperor Maximilian granted Nördlingen same year, King Charles IV gave permission tioned for the first time.25 The names of the the period from 1385 to 1499, Jews are menti- Simon’s son, was permitted to settle in Schwä- on the Jews who were increasingly seen as irk- an expulsion order. Of the money paid, the to the brothers Ludwig VIII and Friedrich II, first Jews on Oettingen lands in Oberdorf are oned who paid the Jewish tax in Bopfingen.11 bisch Gmünd on 3 January 1486; he was even some competition. As a remedial measure, peo- emperor received 800 gulden while the remai- Counts of Oettingen, until revocation, to ad- mentioned 1587 in the registers of the Nörd- allowed to buy a house there.13 ple tried to get rid of them. It was possible to ning 200 gulden went to Nikolaus Zigler who mit Jews to their towns, markets, festivals and lingen Pentecostal mass. Up to the year 1600, In a register of duties paid on property in Ell- expel them with the permission of the emperor had brokered the deal. The Jews had to leave villages with all services and “usages” ensuing 23 Jews from Oberdorf are recorded as having wangen, Jews are also mentioned as taxpayers A contract between the town of Bopfingen and who, on payment of a large sum of money, was the town in the spring of 1507. They found re- therefrom.23 attended the fair in Nördlingen during the pe- during the period 1381 to 1420. In 1428 and a Jew has also been preserved. In 1499 the Jew prepared to waive the protection of his “cham- fuge in the surrounding villages in the lands of riod.26 For the same time, 25 Jews from Auf- 1443 Jews from Ellwangen were buried in the Heynn had been accepted as a citizen, with ber servants”. He passed laws granting imperial the Counts of Oettingen.19 We may assume that, as time went on and their hausen and 46 Jews from Pflaumloch are also Jewish cemetery in Nördlingen. In 1445 his family, for three years with the same rights towns the right to expel their Jews. In his will rule expanded, the Counts of Oettingen beca- recorded in the register as having attended the Johannes admitted the Jew Koppelmann from as the other citizens of Bopfingen. The town of 1496, Count Eberhard V of Württemberg me permanently entitled to take in Jews and fair in Nördlingen.27 and his family to Ellwangen for a agreed to protect his property, for which he na- also decreed that no Jews be allowed to live or tax them. This also implies that a new protec- protection fee of 12 gulden.12 turally had to pay taxes to the town. His an- trade in Württemberg.15 tion of Jews came into being. The old kind of

8 9 A privilege granted to the town of Bopfingen From the Thirty Years’ War to the end of the the town for good. The reason given was that turn to Aufhausen and Oberdorf, with Jews Thereafter a new letter of protection would be j) goose money by Emperor Charles V on 11 June 1545 was 18th century the Jewish population had reached 80 people again being mentioned in Aufhausen from issued. k) beverage levy, as well as to have disastrous consequences for the econo- and the Jewish and Christian children could no 1686 onwards. By 1705 their number had in- l) money for kosher butchering, not less mic situation of the Jews. From that time on- The Thirty Years’ War was as hard for the Jews longer be kept apart. Before leaving the town creased to 27 persons. In 1730 the Jewish com- In the preamble to each letter of protection m) consensus payment on admission into ward, Jews were only allowed to lend money to as for the rest of the population. Everyone suf- they had to sell their houses and other proper- munity was given permission to build a synago- it was stressed that granting protection was a protection, then local citizens with the permission of the ma- fered from hunger, billeting of soldiers, plun- ty. They were then made to pay 10 percent of gue, which in turn was replaced by a new buil- huge act of mercy on the part of the count. It n) departure or supplementary taxes yor and the town council. This was clearly desi- dering and extortion payments. Some Jews left the proceeds as a supplementary tax. This was ding in 1777. Already in 1736 there were 26 Je- was then pointed out that all Jews including gned to exclude Jews from the money-lending their rural communities and sought protection the end of the continuous Jewish settlement in wish families living in Aufhausen; by 1788 the women, unmarried children and other depen- The house tax on Jewish houses was charged at business. Citizens who nonetheless had finan- in the fortified towns or cities. This explains .32 number had increased to 36 families. The com- dents were included in the protection. For “as the same rate as on Christian houses. The tax cial dealings with Jews were liable to punish- why Jews are mentioned in Oberdorf, Aufhau- munity belonged to the Oettingen rabbinate.35 long as they were tolerated” the Jews were re- amount was between 100 and 170 gulden de- ment through “imprisonment in the tower” or sen and Pflaumloch up to the start of the war In 1658 the commander of the Order of Teu- quired to observe the provisions of the letter pending on the state of the house.38 expulsion from the town. Bopfingen itself now in 1618 but not thereafter. tonic Knights, Philipp von Gravenegg from As early as 1684, four Jewish families lived in of protection and be “humble, faithful and took on the role of moneylender and in 1578 Lauchheim, issued a letter of protection for six Oberdorf, with their number rising to 26 fami- obedient”. The ground rent was paid in kind until 1695. the old privilege granted by Charles V was re- Shortly before the end of the Thirty Years’ War Jewish families covering a period of six years, lies in 1723 and 37 families by 1748. In 1793 Thereafter the tax had to be paid in money. newed by Emperor Rudolf II. Up to the Thirty in 1646, six Jewish families (four from Nörd- despite severe misgivings on the part of the pa- there were 53 Jewish families in Oberdorf (to- Taxation of protected Jews Year’s War the town continued to lend money lingen and one each from Baldern and Neres- rish priest, Mr. Mühlich. The Jews carried on taling 318 persons). The synagogue in Ober- The service payment was a variation on the at an interest rate of 5 %. heim) were given free passage and the right to a lively trade in livestock and goods in the sur- dorf, the same building that exists today, was In agreeing to the settlement of Jews on their “hunting and hand service” Jews had previous- reside in Ellwangen, as well as the same free- rounding area. In 1678 seven Jewish families consecrated in 1745.36 territory, the counts were guided more by ly had to provide. Dispensation from this was In spite of Jews and Christians living close to- dom to carry on their business as the Christi- were living in Lauchheim with their numbers economic considerations than by humanity. called a service payment to be paid by each ow- gether, a lot of prejudice and mistrust existed in ans. Evidently the activities of these Jews were increasing to 61 in 1717 and reaching 18 fa- Protected Jews Thus the amount of tax the Jews had to pay ner of a house or part of a house; a family had rural communities. When the child of a couple advantageous to the town, which had been milies by 1788. In 1686 the existence of a sy- depended substantially on the counts’ requi- to pay two gulden and half a family one gul- from Nähermemmingen disappeared in Sep- badly damaged in the war.30 nagogue is mentioned. When it burned down The Counts of Oettingen regulated the relati- rements. den.39 tember 1555, three Jews from Dorfmerkingen due to negligence, the Jewish community had onship with their Jewish subjects through let- were accused of a ritual murder but were even- A small Jewish community is mentioned as li- to pay a fine of 10 thaler. In 1770 a new house ters of protection. Letters of protection may be The numerous taxes levied on the Jews are li- The protection money had to be paid annu- tually acquitted.28 ving in Baldern after the war. It consisted of six of prayer was built with consent of the over- seen as a kind of contract laying down all the sted in the Oberdorf Saal- und Lagerbuch ally by each family irrespective of their assets. families who besides building a synagogue also lord. The Lauchheim Jews buried their dead in main obligations and rights of the Jews. (stock book) of 1793” Volume II.37 In the In 1793 the fee for a family was eight and for Another case shows that contact with Jews or had a cemetery. When in 1658 the Jews from the cemetery at Aufhausen.33 chapter “Reminders of the Taxes on the Jewish half a family four gulden. The amount could their integration was frowned on. It has been Baldern, together with those of Neresheim, Bestowal of protection Community in Oberdorf” these are listed as also be changed in each new letter of protec- passed down that in 1594 a certain Thomas Aufhausen and Oberdorf, asked the Count’s In Pflaumloch, too, the number of Jews increa- follows: tion. “Moderation of the protection money at Scharf wanted to teach German to Jewish widow, Isabella Eleonora, for their protection sed steadily after the Thirty Years’ War. In 1658 The Counts of Oettingen issued a number of any time was at the mercy of the local ruler”.40 children in Neresheim. When this came to the to be extended, the renewal was granted but seven Jewish families were recorded. Ten years letters of protection to the Jews of Oberdorf a) house tax when a Jew possesses a house From 1766 onwards many widowers and wi- ears of the local magistrate, he was put in pri- with tougher conditions. The Jews were orde- later the number had risen to nine and by 1687 between 1649 and 1806, which were valid for b) ground rent derived from this dows asked for the protection money to be lo- son. In the end, Count Wilhelm gave orders red to either leave the county by the end of the there were 15 families. In 1731 Pflaumloch periods ranging from three to twenty years. c) service payment wered to the annual protection gulden. for the man to be released, but only after he year or move to the devastated Härtsfeld and was assigned to the rural rabbinate of Waller- They covered all aspects of the legal, economic, d) protection money, and thereof had been shown the errors of his ways.29 rebuild the village of . This was un- stein. In 1756, with the consent of the count, social and religious life of the Jews. e) ordinary protection tax The protection tax was calculated based on the acceptable to the Jews, which resulted in their the 18 Jewish families there erected their own f) cattle tax, then protection money. For the amount of one gul- temporary expulsion from the county.31 synagogue.34 It was common practice that, on expiry of g) on these as well as on the house and den a protection tax of six kreuzer had to be the protection period, the Jewish com­munity protection taxes, the extra tax paid; thus if the protection money was eight Under pressure from the citizens of Neresheim, After a while, the Jews who had been expelled would send a “copia memorial” petition to the h) so-called horse money (Kleppergeld), then gulden, the protection tax was 48 kreuzer.41 on 1 October 1658 the Jews were driven out of by the count’s widow in 1658 were able to re- count, requesting him to renew his protection. i) synagogue tax,

10 11 The goose and horse money initially had to be Trade and the social status of Jews a Jew who carried on the “profession of tailor” stantly increasing often without regard to the paid in kind. Goose money had to be paid in in Oberdorf as from 1722. economic situation of those concerned, they cash as early as 1655. At that time four Jewish To maintain their protection, which was essen- did offer a certain security which the Jews felt families paid 1 gulden and 30 kreuzer goose tial to their survival, the Jews had above all to Moneylending was allowed but under strict was worth paying for. money for a year. In 1793 it was raised to 4 gul- abide by the tenets of the letter of protection. conditions. As with other trading activities, re- den. In the letter of protection of 1695, Waller- In legal matters they were reliant on the first cords had to be kept of all dealings whose va- The 19th century stein, Pflaumloch and Oberdorf were required and second instances of the county judiciary. If lue exceeded 24 gulden. To eliminate any dou- to “... bring two suitable, healthy, good riding they could not gain justice through the courts, bt, interest rates were fixed in the letter of pro- At the beginning of the 19th century, after di- horses to our castle immediately after dispatch they were allowed to bring their complaint be- tection by the overlords as follows: in 1719 an vision of the land into secular and ecclesiasti- of this letter”.42 They had to be replaced every fore the count. interest rate of 5 %, in 1727 a rate of 6 %, in cal domains, the communities in the Ostalb re- two to three years. But already in the letter of 1735 of 6 %, in 1752 of 8 %, in 1761 of 7 % gion became part of the Kingdom of Württ- protection of 1728, the Jews of Oberdorf had Within their community the rabbi or his de- and in 1788 a rate of 7 %. Those who did not emberg. Aufhausen, Oberdorf, Lauchheim and to pay 30 gulden horse money to the revenue puty were allowed to “chastise Jews for disob- comply with these rates risked severe punish- Pflaumloch passed to Württemberg through a office in Flochberg. In the last letter of protec- edience”. He was also entitled to impose fines ment.45 treaty with Bavaria in 1810. Step by step the tion for Oberdorf, a riding horse was compen- of up to five gulden. However half of the re- protected Jews living here now became citizens sated for with an annual payment of 33 gulden venue from the fines had to be passed on to From 1798 onwards, it was common prac- of Württemberg. and 20 kreuzer.43 the district authority. Depending on the pro- tice to ask for security for a loan, which had tection period they were allowed to give shelter to be described precisely in the agreement. If The law passed in 1828 regarding the “public The synagogue tax was a collective tax. In 1742 to fellow believers from elsewhere for 24 hours the debtor defaulted on his payment, the goods situation of members of the Israelite communi- it was fixed in the letter of protection at five to three days without permission. had to be taken to the administrative office ty” 48 was an important step forwards towards gulden.44 From then on it remained unchan- where they were auctioned and the Jew recei- the equality of Jews as citizens. The law stipula- ged. Jews were allowed to slaughter three cows per ved his money.46 ted that Jews had to take on family names. The household and year. However, the cattle had law also made it compulsory for Jewish child- The money for kosher butchering was based first to be seen and inspected by approved meat The trade in plots of land, the purchase of ren to attend school from the age of six until on the number of cattle the Jews were permit- appraisers. Jews were allowed to sell the meat gardens, fields, meadows and houses through they were fourteen. Jews were also allowed to ted to slaughter. surplus to their own needs to Christians. They purchase or exchange was not forbidden to move to other towns provided they had a trade were also allowed to produce kosher wine for Jews. However they were not allowed to live to secure their livelihood. However full equali- The beverage levy was a kind of tax on wine domestic use and “ceremonies”. in houses purchased from Christians. Jews had ty with other citizens in Württemberg was only or other drinks. In the Oberdorf Saal- und La- to sell these fixed properties within a year of established by law of 1864. gerbuch (stock book) of 1793 it is described as The businesses Jews could carry on were also purchase at the latest. follows: “The beverage levy is charged on kos- closely defined. They were generally allowed The increased prosperity of the Jewish com- her and other beverages drunk by Jews, whate- to pursue all occupations and trades which did There were strict regulations regarding cattle munities at the beginning of the 19th centu- ver they are called.” not harm Christians. However this considerab- trading. The rules were mainly aimed at pre- ry was evident in vigorous building activity. ly restricted what they could actually do. Thus venting the spread of disease. The Jewish tra- Buildings were constructed which reflected the The departure or supplementary tax was char- their main occupations became bartering and desman was obliged to tell the buyer on reque- religious, cultural and social life of the Jews. ged when a Jew left the county to seek pro- trading, as well as dealing in cattle and proper- st where the animals had come from and also Even prior to the law of 1828, Jewish commu- tection elsewhere and also wanted to take mo- ty, and moneylending. However, Jews were also to show the health certificate.47 nities were allowed to open their own schools. vable belongings with him. These belongings permitted to practice what was termed a “pro- Jewish schools were established in Aufhausen were subject to a supplementary tax of 10 %. fession”, on which a professional tax was levied. Although the letters of protection came at a and Oberdorf in 1823, in Lauchheim in 1829 6. Dues paid by the Jews in Oberdorf, 1793 The Saal- und Lagerbuch (stock book) records high price, and the requirements were con- and in Pflaumloch in1832. In Oberdorf and

12 13 them (Number 8). The following communities binate became part of the rabbinate in Schwä- far beyond the borders of their own towns. Oberdorf community until 1925. The synago- in the district became part of the Ober- bisch Hall. Dr. Hermann Kroner was buried Isaak Hess was born in Lauchheim in 1789 gue in Aufhausen was closed in 1931. During dorf rabbinate: Oberdorf with 496 Jews, Auf- in the Jewish cemetery in a family grave. His and settled in Ellwangen in 1823 as a book- the war it was used by the Hitler Youth.59 hausen with 298 Jews, Pflaumloch with 235 wife Sofie Kroner was deported on 22 August seller and antiquarian. In 1830 he founded Jews and Lauchheim with 111 Jews. In total 1942 to Theresienstadt where all trace of her the Württemberg Association for the Sup- As there were no Jews living in Pflaumloch by there were 1140 members of the community. was lost.53 port of Poor Israelite Orphans and Neg- 1906, the Jewish community was wound up. In some towns the Jews were almost 40 % of lected Children, which continued in exi- In 1907 the respected Jewish businessman Ale- the total population. In 1838 there were 545 The Jews in Oberdorf made an important stence until the Third Reich. He died in 1866 xander von Pflaum donated the synagogue to Jews in Oberdorf compared to 739 Christi- contribution to the economy as taxpayers. and was buried in Aufhausen. Samuel Lieb- the Pflaumloch town council. It was converted ans living there at the time.51 In the census of They also set up new businesses. As early mann, who was born in 1799, also came according to the plans of the donor and is to- 1850, 378 Jews are recorded as living in Auf- as 1830 Veit Weil founded the glue, collagen from Aufhausen. However he left his home- day the Riesbürg town hall.60 On of the hausen, 548 in Oberdorf, 355 in Pflaumloch and degras factory whose products were also town at an early age, emigrating to the USA main entrance there is a plaque commemora- and 176 in Lauchheim. sold in and America. In 1832 David in 1850 where he opened a successful brewe- ting the name of the donor. Heimann founded a woven goods and textile ry in New York.55 Gabriel Hess was born in From 1850, the recently founded Jewish com- factory which also employed seamstresses who Aufhausen in 1817 and subsequently made In Lauchheim the Jewish school closed in 1914 munities in Bopfingen, Ellwangen and Schwä- worked from home. The Wassermann family a name for himself as a manufacturer in Pa- due to lack of pupils. The synagogue was sold bisch Gmünd were added to the responsibili- ran a small draper’s shop and the Pappenhei- ris.56 Dr. David Essinger practiced as a doc- in 1921 and the Jewish community became ties of the rabbinate in Oberdorf. In Ellwan- mer family owned a grocery store. Then the- tor in Oberdorf. In recognition of his dedi- a branch of the community in Oberdorf. In gen there were 20 Jews in 1863, rising to 99 re was the butchers shop run by the Neumetz- cation and twenty-five years of “caring and 1938 the synagogue in Lauchheim was desec- in 1886. In 1877 the Jewish community the- ger family, and the Schuster family’s bakery tireless professional service”, and for his ef- rated and afterwards used as a barn. re had its own prayer room at the “Rössle” inn. and café. Meanwhile the traditional horse and forts as “doctor to the poor” of Oberdorf, In 1869 there were 22 Jews living in Gmünd cattle businesses for which the Jews of Ober- he was granted the freedom of the town on Meanwhile the number of Jews in some towns with their number increasing to 67 persons by dorf were well known also flourished. When 2 January 1869.57 increased again. In Ellwangen a prayer room 1886. Only six Jews had settled in Bopfingen the railway from to Bopfingen open- was rented from 1926 to 1933 until it was clo- 7. Jewish cemetery in Oberdorf by 1880 so they used the facilities of the Jewish ed in 1862, the cattle dealers were also able to The 20th century sed down at the instigation of the Nazis. A to- community in Oberdorf. supply the slaughterhouse in Stuttgart.54 tal of 23 burials took place in the Jewish ceme- Pflaumloch the school buildings also included tended in 1856. The synagogue in Oberdorf By the beginning of the 20th century the tery up to 1938. The Jewish community in Ell- a ritual bath for women (Mikveh) and accom- had been established in 1745. In 1857 the Jews From 1832 to 1930 seven held office in From the second half of the 19th century the number of Jewish inhabitants in the villages wangen was wound up in 1935. In Schwäbisch modation for the teacher. In 1824 the Ober- in Oberdorf received a sum of 200 gulden for the rabbinate in Oberdorf.52 Probably the best Jewish population in Oberdorf gradually de- had significantly declined due to emigration. Gmünd the Jewish community had established dorf Jews built a cemetery; the Jews in Pflaum- the “reconstruction of their synagogue” from known of them was Dr. Hermann Kroner who clined. The reason for this was the recently This resulted in schools and closing a synagogue in 1926, but the interior was van- loch did not have their own graveyard un- the Ministry of Church and School Affairs in managed the affairs of the rabbinate for 33 ye- granted freedom of establishment. Initially the- in many Jewish communities. dalized in 1934. Prior to the dissolution of the til 1837. The graveyards had become neces- Stuttgart. A request for 2300 gulden was made ars. He had studied at the Universities of Mar- re was a wave of emigration to the USA, from Jewish community there in July 1939, the sy- sary, because after 1810 the old Jewish buri- to the same ministry in 1885 for renovation burg and before gaining his doc- 1855 until it subsided again in 1872, which in- In 1900 only 166 Jews remained in Oberdorf, nagogue was sold to the Kreissparkasse savings al ground in Wallerstein was located in Bava- of the rabbinate building and cemetery wall.49 torate in Tübingen with a thesis on Maimo- volved a total of 86 Oberdorf Jews. Then, fol- 56 in Aufhausen, 32 in Lauchheim and 21 in bank for 21,500 reichsmarks. In 1941, 22 Jews ria, and funerals across the state border invol- nides, the most important Jewish philosopher lowing the Equality Act in 1864, many Jews Pflaumloch.58 were deported from Gmünd.61 ved a great deal of effort and many formalities. In 1832 a regulation was issued “regarding and doctor in the Middle Ages. He was hono- migrated to cities, attracted by the prospect of the clerical administration of the Israelites of red at a special ceremony on his 60th birthday better earning opportunities. The Jewish school in Aufhausen was closed When the First World War broke out in 1914, New synagogues were built by Jewish commu- the realm”.50 The 41 Jewish communities in by the community in Oberdorf. Dr. Kroner in 1901 due to lack of pupils (there were only 1674 of the 10,824 Jewish citizens in Württ- nities in Aufhausen in 1823, in Pflaumloch in Württemberg were divided into 13 new rab- died unexpected shortly afterwards on 30 July In the Jewish communities there were some five). In 1910 the Jewish community, with emberg and Hohenzollern served on the front. 1846, and the synagogue in Lauchheim was ex- binates. Oberdorf became the seat of one of 1930. Following his death the Oberdorf rab- eminent personalities who became known only 21 members, continued as a branch of the Of the 37 Jewish soldiers from Aufhausen,

14 15 Bopfingen and Oberdorf, five lost their lives. jutant Roos and his henchmen and driven by the Third Reich. After that there were no more During a visit to the museum in the year 2000, Their names are inscribed on a marble plaque car to the neighboring countryside. They were Jews left in Oberdorf. Only one Jewess born the families of Sandra and Bernhard Noymer in the Jewish cemetery in Oberdorf. Lauch- then thrown out of the car and made to run in Oberdorf survived the concentration camp, with their children Ruth and Edward Budel- heim, too, mourned the loss of one of their across the fields with the SA men firing after her name was Meta Meyer. mann, Janet and James Noymer, Karen and seven Jewish combatants, while Schwäbisch them. Josef Schuster was shot and killed whi- Douglas Sprenger, and Carol and Michael Gmünd lost four of its thirteen soldiers.62 le Julius Schuster was wounded.65 Meanwhile, In the course of the compulsory sale of Jewish Noymer from the USA generously decided to the same day, SA storm troopers from Ellwan- property in 1939, the synagogue was sold to make a donation to the museum in the form of In Oberdorf, after the National Socialists gen arrived in Oberdorf and announced to SA the Oberdorf town council, who in turn sold it a large showcase with many Jewish ritual artif- seized power in January 1933, strict rules of Sturmführer Böss that they had come to set fire one year later to the local gymnastics club. Du- acts, which is now on display in the lecture hall conformity were introduced and enforced to the synagogue. When Böss refused to have ring the war, forced laborers were housed in the at the former synagogue. in all areas of society, and acts of aggression anything to do with this “action”, they finally former synagogue. After the war the former sy- against Jews began. Among the first measures had to withdraw without achieving their objec- nagogue was converted into a . The museum’s main focus and concept is to taken against the Jews in Oberdorf, the free- tive. In the early hours of 11 November 1938 In 1968 the building was acquired by a trades- present the history of the Jews of Oberdorf and dom of the town granted to the respected busi- the SA men tried again; they managed to get man and used as storage space. their synagogue. But since the museum is the nessman Karl Weil in 1921 was revoked, and into the synagogue by breaking a window, and only one of its kind in the surrounding area, the cattle trader Aron Meyer expelled from the set fire to documents and some of the furni- After the war the concept has been expanded to cover the town council. At the request of the Württem- ture. However, local residents soon spotted the history of all Jewish communities in the regi- berg political police, a list of all the 87 Jews in fire and the Christians Lotte and Fritz Mahler The idea of putting the building to a more on. The premises are used to host a wide va- Oberdorf was drawn up. The Jews were sub- together with Mrs. Scherup, and the Jews Gu- worthy use was first put forward at the begin- riety of lively cultural events, such as exhibi- jected to much harassment and injustice. The stav Lamm and Isaak Lehmann were able to ex- ning of the 1980s. In 1989 the “Support As- tions, lectures and concerts, not to mention the first businessman to become the object of Nazi tinguish it. After the the synago- sociation for the Former Synagogue in Ober- guided tours of the museum. In this way it has hatred was David Heimann whose draper’s gue was closed.66 dorf” was set up, which then purchased the been possible to draw the attention of many shop was served with an official boycott on 1 building and completely restored it almost to thousands of visitors to the history, culture and April 1933.63 Some Oberdorf Jews were arrested during the its state prior to 1940. The intention from the traditions of the Jews in Oberdorf and the en- evening of 9 November 1938; they were de- start was not to create a house of prayer but tire Ostalb region. Other Jews were taken into “protective cus- tained in Bopfingen and deported to Dach- rather to use the building as a memorial and tody” for making derogatory remarks about au the next day. David Heimann has left a re- meeting place. On 25 November 1993 the me- Adolf Hitler. The Nazis also applied pressure cord of the inhuman treatment to which the morial and meeting place was officially open- to the Christians employed by the Jews, bran- Jews, some of them over 60 years old, were ed at an appropriate ceremony. Karl Heiman, ding them “Jewish lackeys” and threatening subjected to during the month they were held who had emigrated to the USA as child, came them. On 1 October 1938 the Jewish cattle in Dachau. over specially for the occasion and donated his dealers had their trading licenses revoked, so family’s Torah scroll. that effectively they could no longer earn their Following the Kristallnacht the number of Jews living.64 in Oberdorf temporarily increased due to the The next step was now to research the histo- forced expulsion of 54 Jews from nearby towns ry of the Jews in Oberdorf and the surroun- Soon afterwards followed the terrible events and villages. They were put up by their fellow ding Ostalb region. To this end, the “Museum of the Kristallnacht, where those involved believers. However it would not be long be- of the History of Jews in the Ostalb Region” did not even shrink from murder. In the ear- fore 88 of the Jews living in Oberdorf were de- was opened at the memorial and meeting place ly hours of 9 November 1938 the Jews Julius ported in four trains (from December 1941 to in 1997. and Josef Schuster were picked up by SA ad- August 1942) to the extermination camps of 8. One of the display cabinets with religious artifacts in Oberdorf

16 17 Former synagogue in Oberdorf

1704 1930 1968 SYNAGOGUE in OBERDORF The Oberdorf Jews pay synagogue tax. This in- The Oberdorf rabbinate is merged with the The Catholic parish builds a new, larger church dicates the existence of the first synagogue, but rabbinate in Schwäbisch Hall. (consecrated in 1969) leading to the sale of the AS RECALLED BY there is no further information about it. synagogue building. Afterwards it is used as CHAIM (HEINER) HEIMANN, HOD HASWARON / ISRAEL 1933 storage space. 1711 The synagogue is renovated. DRAWN BY Establishment of a Jewish community in Ober- 1989 ARTHUR REIS, HOD HASWARON / ISRAEL dorf 1938 The newly-founded Support Association AUGUST 1988 Kristallnacht 9/10 November 1938: The lo- purchases the former synagogue. After prelimi- 1745 cal SA commander Böss sends away SA storm nary inspections, the building is renovated and According to a description by the troopers from another district, who had come the mural uncovered. A large genizah was dis- Neresheim in 1872, “the existing synagogue to destroy the synagogue. Only in the early covered in the attic. It mainly contained prayer was consecrated” by the Jewish community in hours of 11 November did SA men force their books that were no longer useable. this year. way into the synagogue by breaking a window, The ridge turret is removed. The associati- 9. The synagogue around 1900 setting fire to the books and documents they on aims to restore the building to its former 1809 – 1812 found there. However neighbors soon noticed state prior to 1940, when it was still used as a After the synagogue had apparently fallen into the fire. According to existing testimonies synagogue. disrepair, a new building is erected on the both Christians and Jews were involved in the As there are no pictures of the interior, there is foundation of the old synagogue using the old fire-fighting operations: Lotte and Fritz Mah- no attempt to create an accurate reconstruc- floor and other parts of the old structure; it was ler, Mrs. Scherup, Gustav Lamm and Isaak tion. The comprehensive building works completed in 1812. Lehmann. are financed by subsidies from the State of The structure of the synagogue remained Baden-Württemberg, Ostalb Region, Bop- 1832 undamaged. fingen Town Council, and the Ostalb “Order regarding the ecclesiastical subdivision Kreissparkasse (savings bank), as well as nu- of the Israelites of the Kingdom”. 1939 merous donors both from Germany and ab- The 41 Jewish communities in Württemberg Acquisition of the Oberdorf synagogue by road. are allocated to 13 new rabbinates. Oberdorf Town Council. Oberdorf becomes the seat of Rabbinate No. 8. 1993 This includes communities in the Jagst district: 1940 With refurbishment of the interior complete- 10. Former synagogue in Oberdorf, 1988 Oberdorf with 496 Jews, Aufhausen with 298 The synagogue is sold to the Oberdorf gym- ly funded by donations, the former synagogue 1 ENTRANCE Jews, Pflaumloch with 235 Jews, and Lauch- nastics club and used as a . It is la- is opened as a Memorial and Meeting Place on 2 ENTRANCE TO THE STAIRCASE TO THE WOMEN’S GALLERY heim with 111 Jews (1140 in all). ter used to house Polish and Russian forced la- 25 November. 3 2 x 6 ROWS OF MENS’ SEATS 4 2 x 6 ROWS OF BOYS’ SEATS borers. 5 PODIUM 1847 1997 6 ALMEMOR (TABLE FOR READING THE TORAH PORTION) 7 PODIUM FOR LIFTING OUT THE TORAH SCROLLS According to a report by the Oberamt, the sy- 1950 On and below what was the women’s gallery, 8 CUPBOARD FOR STORAGE OF THE TORAH SCROLLS nagogue is in a “poor state of repair”. Acquisition of the former synagogue by the “Museum of the History of Jews in the 9 PREACHER’S PULPIT Oberdorf Catholic Parish (formed by an in- Ostalb Region” is opened to the public. It de- 10 PRAYER LEADER’S SEAT (ERLEBACHER) 11 SEAT OF THE RABBI (DR. KRONER) 1857 flux of many displaced persons). Conversion scribes the history of Jewry in Germany from 12 SEAT OF SYNAGOGUE ELDER With the aid of a state subsidy of 200 gulden, into a church, installation of a wooden ridge its beginnings until 1942, with the main focus GROUND FLOOR PLAN 13 STORAGE ROO the interior of the synagogue is refurbished. turret. on Oberdorf. 1:100 11. Sketch by Chaim Heimann, and Arthur Reis

18 19 The inscriptions of the former Oberdorf synagogue

Exterior Offertory box of the Jewish Interior, east wall community There are two inscriptions on the outside. The Inscription: This gate of the LORD, into which the righ- text from the book of Genesis (28, 17) begins A donation for the poor teous shall enter. (Psalm 118) over the women’s entrance (on the right) and continues over the men’s entrance. Know before whom you stand, you stand be- fore God How awesome is this place! The first words of the Ten Commandments This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. The Torah crown

14. Offertory box In the inscriptions of the two round arches the- re are dots above the Hebrew characters which make them into numerals. When added to- gether this gives the dates 572 (top) and 603 of the small Jewish numbering (without the thousand), which when converted give the ye- ars 1811/1812 and 1842/1843 A.D.

The Menorah by Georg Sternbacher

According to Bloch’s “principle of hope” the menorah represents the history of Judaism: a burnt wooden cube made up of twelve indi- vidual blocks of wood stands on six lead base- plates; for Sternbacher a material with sinister connotations. Out of these ruins, the menorah is growing in the form of a tree which is already showing signs of its first buds, but still needs to be cared for. In the alcove of the Torah shrine, a burnt timber plank symbolizes the door of the synagogue after the Kristallnacht.

12. Men’s entrance 13. Women’s entrance 15. East wall with the Menorah by Georg Sternbacher

20 21 The Torah scrolls of the Oberdorf synagogue

In biblical language Torah means the teaching The Torah shrine The Torah portion The Heimann Torah or instruction of individuals, but the word is also a name for compilations of statutory According to a list, there were seventeen Torah This shows hand-written Hebrew verses from What is thought to be the last of the seventeen texts. In a more restricted sense Torah designa- scrolls in the Oberdorf synagogue. Fourteen the 3rd book of Moses and dates back to the Torah scrolls was presented to the Support As- tes God’s revelation handed down to Moses at of them were confiscated together with other 16th/17th century. sociation, as a permanent loan, by Karl Hei- Mount Sinai and the five books of Moses, also important documents after the Kristallnacht. The Torah portion was presented as a perma- man at the opening ceremony for the Memo- called the Pentateuch. Traditionally the Torah Two were taken by an Oberdorf citizen, Daniel nent loan to the Chairman of the Support As- rial and Meeting Place on 25 November 1993. is written by hand on illuminated parchment. Schwarz, who handed them over after the war sociation for the Former Synagogue in Ober- Printed letters are used for better legibility. The to Rabbi Eskin, an American. Their trail goes dorf, Dr. Diethelm Winter, by Deacon Hans The Heimann family Torah was originally do- Torah is kept in a shrine. cold in Paris. Hetzel on 19 February 1992. nated to the synagogue by Chaim Loeb Hei- mann in 1845. To celebrate the victory of Ger- many over France in the war of 1870/1871, a curtain and silver fittings were added to the Torah shrine. In August 1939 this Torah ac- companied the Heimann family on their jour- ney to the USA. During World War II the Hei- mann family made their Torah scroll available to Jewish soldiers for use in a synagogue near Fort Dix.

After the war the US Army returned the Torah scroll to the Heiman family. The Torah scroll was then displayed in the Sy- nagogue at East Meadow, Long Island, New York “In memory of the Jewish victims of the Holocaust”.

16. Torah shrine in the Pflaumloch synagogue 17. Torah shrine in the Aufhausen synagogue around 1900 before 1931 Note: After emigrating to the USA, the Heimanns changed the spelling of their surname to one „n“.

18. Torah portion from the 16th/17th century 19. Torah scroll of the Heimann family

22 23 Jews in Germany Jews in the imperial towns

Origins Legal status Jews in the imperial towns Development of rural Jewry

Between the 8th and 6th centuries BC Jewish The 4th Lateran Council in 1215, under Pope The centers of Jewish life in the Middle Age The status of the Jews in the 13th and 14th communities grew up in Mesopotamia, Asia Innocent III, brought fundamental changes are the towns where the Jews worked mainly as centuries as imperial chamber servants did not Minor and Egypt. By the beginning of the in the life of Jews. The old ecclesiastical poli- moneylenders and money changers, but also as protect them from further massive persecution. Christian era, Jews had also settled in the Eas- cy of discrimination was completely reformula- doctors. A list of income taxes from the impe- Examples from our region: tern and Western Mediterranean lands. These ted. In 1236, as a direct consequence, the Stau- rial towns from the year 1241, in the reign of diaspora communities were already larger than fer Emperor Frederick II granted privileges to Emperor Frederick II, provides the first traces 1298 the population in the home country. Although the Jews in his empire. He made them “im- of Jewish life in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Bopfin- The Rintfleisch pogrom: The nobleman Rint- geographically scattered, the Jewish peoples re- perial chamber servants” (SERVI CAMERAE gen and Donauwörth. fleisch used the alleged desecration of the host main unified by their religious conviction with REGIS). This status put them under the direct by Jews in Röttingen as an excuse to wipe out the center of their cult being the temple sanc- protection of the emperor, and they now be- At the time, the imperial town of Nördlingen Jewish communities, first in and tuary in Jerusalem. came his property. This meant protection on was exempt from these taxes for a period of five then in Swabia: , Wassertrü- country roads and lanes, and freedom of mo- years following a major fire. dingen, Spielberg, Oettingen, Nördlingen and The destruction of the second, Herodian tem- vement and residence. The emperor was free to Hürnheim ple in Jerusalem, in the year 70 AD by the Ro- loan, pledge or sell this seignorage. At this time The tax amounts on the imperial tax list of man legions under Titus, marked the end of Jews were also excluded from becoming mem- 1241 give an indication of the size of the Je- 1348/1349 the Jewish state. This meant that the Jews were bers of guilds, so their previous sources of in- wish communities: The plague (Black Death) in Europe, for which now deprived of their central focus. However, come from crafts, trades and commerce were the Jews were held re- a strong cultural, religious and emotional bond now closed to them. The only remaining ways Taxes of the town Taxes on the Jews sponsible. to Jerusalem persisted. to earn a living were moneylending and pawn- 2 silver marks Bopfingen is recorded Bopfingen 50 silver marks In the wake of the Roman army, many Jews broking, activities which were forbidden to (with Donauwörth) as a “place of martyr- came to Central Europe. Christians by the Church. dom”. Schwäbisch Gmünd 150 silver marks 12 silver marks The first Jewish communities in Germany Canons of the 4th Lateran Council For comparison: At the latest follow- 80 silver marks 6 silver marks ing the Black Death The first documentary evidence of Jews in 1. Jews had to pay the Church a tithe on their 70 silver marks 30 silver marks pogroms, many Jews Germany, from the year 321 AD, is in a letter estate. Constance 60 silver marks 20 silver marks fled the towns to the from Emperor Constantine to the city of Colo- relatively safe territo- gne, where evidently a Jewish community exi- 2. Jews had to wear clothing that differentiated ries of the nobility. They were able to continue sted at the time. It is likely that there were also 20. Map of Jewish communities in Germany before 1238 them from Christians (Jewish hat). trading in the towns, because they were now other Jewish communities or settlements in the under the protection of their overlords, making towns founded by the Romans along the Rhi- landowners, customs officials, doctors and ma- e.g. in , Worms, , Cologne, Bam- 3. Jews were excluded from public office. them unassailable there. ne, Mosel and rivers. sters of the mint. berg, and elsewhere. This was the Charlemagne and his successors took the Jews zenith of German Jewry. 4. Voluntarily converted Jews were to be pre- The Jews in the Middle Ages under their protection, enabling them to dedi- During the crusades, from 1096 AD onwards, vented from reverting to Judaism. cate themselves fully to their religious, cultural life became increasingly difficult for the Jews: From the 6th to the 9th centuries, many sour- and economic activities. fanatical crusaders murdered many defenseless ces document the presence of Jews in the ter- Between the 10th and 13th centuries there Jews out of religious hatred when they refused ritories of the Franconian kings as merchants, were many Jewish communities in Germany, to be baptized.

24 25 Jews in the County of Oettingen

On 30 May 1331 Emperor Ludwig IV the Bavarian granted permission Jewish settlements in the County of Oettingen and to the old Count Ludwig of Oettingen to settle Jews in his territories, as the imperial towns of Bopfingen and Nördlingen follows: Place Jews recorded from to We Ludwig, Roman Emperor by the Grace of God, at all times seeking to Bopfingen 1241 1545 enhance the empire, do hereby publicly proclaim in this letter that we have Nördlingen 1241 1942 permitted the noble Ludwig, the old Count of Oettingen, our loyal servant, Hohentrüdingen 1298 Hürnheim 1298 with this letter to receive all the Jews who have already settled down with Mönchsrot Oettingen 1298 1899 him, who travel to him or who will settle down with him and to use them Spielberg 1298 with all rightful privileges and good customs until we revoke this right. Dürrwang 1331 1650 Also we command that they are kept safe and that no one harms them Baldern 1344 1658 Hechlingen or lays hands on them. Harburg 1348 1942 Ehingen Wallerstein 1348 1899 Hains- Steinhart With this document with our imperial seal written in in the Wemding 1429 1474 fahrth Zöbingen thirteen hundredth and thirty-first year after Christ’s birth, in the seventieth Baldingen 1433 1682 Oettingen year of our realm and the fourth of this empire we certify to this. Hainsfahrt 1434 1899 Zipplingen 1438 Baldern Kleinerdlingen 1458 1899 Dirgenheim This first Jewish seignorage in the County of Oettingen, which retrospec- Neresheim 1459 1658 Wallerstein tively legitimized the existing circumstances, was renewed repeatedly by Dischingen 1464 1650 Jagstheim Löpsingen successive emperors. Löpsingen 1465 1727 Oberdorf Maihingen 1479 1663 Aufhausen Pflaum- Baldingen Wemding loch Ehingen 1487 1609 Bopfingen Gerolfingen 1487 Näher- Flochberg Pflaumloch 1487 1907 Klein- Nördlingen Utzmemmingen 1487 1625 erdlingen Dehlingen Utzmemmingen 1503 1874 Flochberg 1514 1538 Dorfmerkingen Ederheim Bissingen 1519 1658 Hürnheim Diemanstein 1519 Harburg Zöbingen 1520 1539 Mönchs- Kösingen deggingen Mögesheim 1538 1659 Neresheim Zipplingen 1538 Dorfmerkingen 1555 1660 Aufhausen 1560 1942 Diemantstein Bissingen Steinhart 1560 1883 Hechlingen 1561 Dehlingen 1587 1611 Kösingen 1587 1607 Oberdorf 1587 1942 21. Towns with protected Jews in the County of Oettingen Schopfloch 1587 1899 Mönchsrot 1593 1899 Dirgenheim 1595 Unterschneidheim 1595 1689 Jagstheim 1601 1626 Alerheim 1671 1680 Mönchsdeggingen 1684 1879

26 27 The first protected Jews in Oberdorf

Further sources yield lages. This made it necessary to establish new 1695 sparse records of the rules and conditions under which they could The letter of protection states that “as previous- names and numbers enjoy the protection of the various branches of ly” the Rabbi or his deputy in Oberdorf may of Jews in Oberdorf up the House of Oettingen in their respective ter- fine disobedient Jews the sum of five gulden. to the beginning of the ritories. Prior to 1649, for the Oberdorf Jews as On payment of an appeal fee of three gulden, 18th century: for Jews elsewhere, there were individual letters the case could be given a second hearing before of protection, but from now on “general let- the administration. 1595 ters of protection” were issued covering whole In the “Interest and communities. Debt Booklet”, four Jewish families are re- 1649 corded in Oberdorf: The first general letter of protection for the enti- Joseph, Jässle, Lew and re County of Oettingen also included Oberdorf. Anschal. 1652 22. View of Bopfingen and Oberdorf The letter of protection from 1649 was rene- wed for three years. Oberdorf at the foot of the Ipf is first menti- 1604 to 1609 oned in a document dated 1268. As was the Only three Jews are named: Moises, Marx and 1655 case with most of the villages in the old Empi- Jässle. The letter of protection from 1649 was rene- re, in Oberdorf, too, there were several feudal wed for a further three years. overlords. The most important were the Town 1610 of Bopfingen, and the Counts of Oettingen, in In the description of taxes, only one Jew is re- 1656 whom high authority was vested. corded as living in Oberdorf: Joseph. There were five Jewish families in Oberdorf (about 25 persons): Lew, Marx from Baldern, As in over 40 other towns and villages in the 1615 Koppel from Baldern, Moises from Aufhausen County of Oettingen, the counts very soon It is recorded that Salomon Hirsch, a protected and Markus. settled Jews here in Oberdorf. They were ac- Jew from Oberdorf, had a legal dispute with cepted under the protection of the count, Abraham, a protected Jew from Aufhausen. 1659 which was guaranteed in so-called “letters of Temporary expulsion of Jews from Baldern, 23. Map of the County of Oettingen, 1744 protection”, in return for the payment of hea- 1618 to 1648 Aufhausen and Oberdorf by the dowager vy taxes. The Thirty Years War: The Jews fled from Countess Isabella. marauding, plundering armies and sought The start of the settlement of Jews is a matter protection back in the fortified towns and ci- 1684 to 1687 of contention but there are several indications ties. There is no longer any mention of Jews There were four Jewish families in Oberdorf that it was in the year 1510. in Oberdorf. (about 20 persons).

The first direct record is the mention of Ober- 1648 1688 dorf Jews attending the Nördlingen Penteco- After the end of the Thirty Years War, the Jews There were six Jewish families in Oberdorf stal Fair of 1587. who had fled started to return to their old vil- (about 30 persons).

28 29 Jewish community in Oberdorf

In the 16th and 17th centuries there were al- The rights and duties of the “protected Jews” The Jews were forbidden to Addendum ways between four and six Jewish families li- were strictly regulated: ving in Oberdorf as protected Jews, with a si- – ask for protection anywhere else without the We, Franz Wilhelm, Count of Oettingen, Baldern and Stötern … milar situation in many other villages in the The Jews had to knowledge of their overlord County of Oettingen. For the year 1688, six families were mentioned – be subordinate, loyal and obedient – trade in church paraphernalia or items bea- in Oberdorf, but by 1723 this had already ri- ring the Count’s coat of arms. Wir haben Uns auf den ad Supplicas der obern sen to 26 families (approx. 130 persons). This – pay taxes on time increase in population indicates a significant – Compliance had to be sworn with “a genu- dorfer Judenschaft, in dem 23 mens: Jinil: settlement of protected Jews by the Counts of – be quiet on Sundays and Christian holidays ine Jewish oath”. gehorsamst erstatteten Bericht, in anbetracht der da- Oettingen. Their origins are unknown. A de- scription by the Oberamt suggests they were – leave Christian buyers the right of first refu- rin angeführten Umständen und zwar vor- Jews expelled from and “allegedly also sal at all times French Jews” (around 1704). nehmlichen der gegenwärtig, schon einige Jahre Only then was the number of persons large en- – in legal disputes submit to the highest in- andauernden Geld = gelimen = und Nahrungslos ough for them to establish their own commu- stance of the county administration. nity, which was founded in 1711. The only de- Zeiten dann der zu vorzeitigen Schutzlosungen, tailed records about the situation of the Ober- The Jews were allowed to dorf Jews at that time are the letters of protec- gnädigst entschlossen, den auszufertigenden tion. – “practice all kinds of crafts and trades which Neuen Schutz-Brief auf 20. Jahre mildigst zu were not detrimental to guild craftsmen” Letters of protection (such as among others: broker, cattle dealer, erteilen, und das Consens Geld für 52 Familien tailor, butcher, baker and merchant.) The letters of protection issued by the Counts und den Substituten - und den Schulen Klopfer, dann of Oettingen allowed Jews to settle on their ter- – accommodate foreign Jews for up to three auch Supernumerar=Familien auf 790 fl. ritory in Oberdorf. Granting a letter of protec- days tion is described in many of the documents as anzusetzen-auch dabey wegen des Schächtens so vieles an act of mercy. In the letters of protection it is – lend money at the fixed interest rate of 8 % noted that the Jews could be expelled entirely gnädigst zu erlauben, daß jede Famille drei from the county at any time, even during the – regulate their internal affairs themselves, the protection period. Thus the letters of protec- highest authority being the rabbi Rind das Jahr über, Schächten und, weil nicht tion were no ultimate guarantee. Their durati- eine jede Judenfamille in ihrer Behaußung on was limited to between 3 and 20 years. Re- – freely choose their community leaders. newal of protection had to be dearly bought by zu schächten Gelegenheit hat, ein anderer Jud für paying “consensus money”. The letters of protection also governed read- die Judenschaftt, bey sich in seiner Behaußung mission into protection: Foreign Jews had to ungehindert schächten derfe-imübrigen aber, show proof of assets to a value of 600 gul- den, or 400 gulden in the case of future fami- was Kälber, Schafe-Böcke und Geisen ly members. 24. Addendum to Letter of Protection of 1778, page 1

30 31 Jewish community in Oberdorf

anbetrift, es bey der unbestimmten Zahl sein be onverhalten das selbige Judenschaft

wenden haben solle. Und, damit allen wei- hiervon die gehörige Eröffnung machen - sich

teren Beschwerden der Metzger Vorgebogen werde; auch selbsten darnach gemäsigt und gehor-

So ist den Juden bey Straf 1: Reichs (?) auf samst achten solle.

jedes Pfund Fleisch nachdrücksamst zu verbitten, Decretum Hohenbaldern 28. Juli 1778

von dem Koscher ausfallenden Vieh, was mal nämlich Ex Comissione Illustrissimi DDni Comitis

der 2. Vorder Theille davon anbelangt, nicht das F. E. de Lünicshausen

mindeste weder in Oberdorf - noch auf dem (?)=nicht lesbar Lande an Christen zu Verkaufen.

Was hingegen den 10ten Punkten des Schutz-

briefes – und der übermäßige Zinsen be- The letter of protection was issued by the overlord in this case by the trifft; So können Wir erholter Judenschaft hier Counts of Oettingen. It was vital to the existence of the Jews as it of- fered the Jewish community the opportunity to settle on the Counts’ einfals um da weniger gnädigst willfahren, territory and live there. In the letter of protection the overlord meticulously specified the con- als nicht ohne Grund zu besorgen, daß die Unter- ditions for the protection which were defined as precisely as in a con- tract. A letter of protection included up to 16 different taxes that the thanen im solchen Fall unbillig beschworen und Jewish community had to pay for their protection. The letter of protection shown here is an amended version to the let- übernommen werden derften. ter of protection of 1778. The amendment is exceptional in that it was issued for 20 years; most letters of protection were valid for a Es bleibet dahero ein so anders ermelten much shorter period. The following was regulated by the amend- unserem Ober Amt –Baldern, aus diesem ment to the letter of protection: The money to be paid for issuing the document was fixed at 790 gulden and covered 52 families and eingangs gedachten Bericht, andurch zu their dependents in Oberdorf. The Jews were allowed to slaugh- ter livestock, but the sale of meat to Christians was forbidden un- Ende und mit dem gnädigsten Auftrag- der pain of punishment. It was also underscored that, in monetary transactions, the Jews had to abide by the interest rates set in the let- Nachrichtlich und pro Resolutione in Gnaden ter of protection. The Oberamt Baldern was charged with making 25. Addendum to Letter of Protection of 1778, page 2 public the amendment to the letter of protection. 26. Addendum to Letter of Protection of 1778, page 3

32 33 Jewish community in the 19th and 20th centuries

The start of the 19th century marked the be- – Compulsory education for Jewish children 1850 ginning of a new era for the Jews. Through the from the age of 6 to 14 Start of the emigration to America. state treaty of 1810, Oberdorf and the district – Right of the Jewish community to found a The first people to emigrate from Oberdorf around Bopfingen became part of the Kingdom school provided the salary for the teacher was were: of Württemberg, which was striving to inte- assured Samuel Guttmann, grate Jews as citizens with equal rights. Follow- – They were no longer considered “protected Salomon Henle and ing the first equality laws, the events of 1848 Jews” Jette Oberdorfer. brought the long desired freedom to settle, for Jews as well as for others. As a result there was 1832 1861 huge migration to the cities, but also to Ameri- A regulation was issued “regarding the clerical “Law regarding the independence of civic ca, which led to the demise of many rural com- administration of the Israelites of the realm”. rights from religious confession” munities around the turn of the century. The The 41 Jewish communities in Württemberg Gave Jews the right to vote and stand for elec- last of the equality laws, in 1864, finally made were assigned to 13 new rabbinates. Oberdorf tion to the Assembly of Estates in Württem- the Jews in Württemberg fully-fledged citizens became the seat of Rabbinate No. 8, which in- berg. with all rights and duties; a status which they cluded the communities in the Jagst district. retained until the rise of the Nazi dictatorship. 1864 1845 “Law regarding the public relationships of the 1812 The struggle for equality Israelite community” The “Royal Decree on the Compulsory Service In March 1845 Dr. Karl Weil submitted a pe- Art. 1: “The Israelites domiciled in the king- of Jews” and other regulations from 27 Febru- tition he had drafted in the name of 11,000 Is- dom, in all civil relationships, are subject to the ary to 5 March1812 declared that the duties of raelites in Württemberg to the Assembly of the same laws as apply to other citizens, they have Jews were the same as those of the rest of the Estates. the same rights and duties, and have the same population. obligations of service.” This was the first step towards the civil equa- 1848 lity of Jews, but their status as protected Jews The National Assembly in Frankfurt succeeds 1914 – 1918 remained. in reaching agreement about a comprehen- World War I: Out of a total of 10,824 Ger- sive law defining the fundamental rights of the man Jewish inhabitants of Württemberg and 1828 German people. Hohenzollern, 1674 served in the war as front- “Law regarding the public relationships of the line soldiers, of whom 270 were killed. Israelite community” dated 25 April 1828. 1849 From Aufhausen, Bopfingen and Oberdorf, 37 For the Jews this was the second important step Order regarding the introduction of the funda- Jews served in the war, five of whom were killed. towards civil equality: mental rights of the German people: – Obligation to take on a family name (the “All discriminations and differences in public 1930 form being subject to approval and payment and private law, which up to now by law were The Oberdorf Rabbinate was merged with the 27/28. The precondition for emigration was the renunciation of citi- of a fee) associated with belonging to a religion other Rabbinate in Schwäbisch Hall. zenship: The renunciation of citizenship certificate of Heinrich Essinger, – Relocation to other communities in the king- than the three Christian denominations are Neresheim 1869 dom became possible under certain condi- abolished…”. This implied freedom of settle- tions (but not if the source of income was ment for the Jews in Württemberg (confirmed “haggling”, hawking, second-hand dealing, by an order of 1851 as an interim solution un- pawnbroking, cattle trading, or cattle lending) til a law could be drafted and passed).

34 35 Organization of the Jewish community

A well-functioning Jewish community inclu- 1828, specified compulsory education for Je- The ritual bath (mikveh) des various offices and facilities, which have wish children from the age of 6 to 14. The Je- been precisely laid down since ancient times. wish community in Oberdorf had already been According to the Talmud, a women’s bath is Whereas the community is represented in a le- running its own school since 5 March 1823, mandatory for a Jewish community. Bathing gal sense by the community elders, the rabbi is which was housed on the top floor above the there is prescribed after menstruation, before a community worker with the tasks of teacher, women’s bath (mikveh). the wedding night, after childbirth, and after preacher and judge. The number of pupils reflected the size of the contact with a corpse. Probably since the Thirty Years’ War, and cer- Jewish community over the years: tainly after 1731, Oberdorf belonged to the In Oberdorf it is assumed that there was a mik- Oettingen rural rabbinate of Wallerstein. Year Number of pupils veh, at least as from the time when the Jewish Initially Oberdorf only had a so-called “substi- 1835 108 pupils community was established. There is evidence tute rabbi”. Not until the Württemberg peri- of a house, built in 1823, in which the mik- 1836 112 pupils od, from 1830, did Oberdorf have its own rab- veh was accommodated in two rooms on the bi, who, from 1832, was also the district rab- 1837 114 pupils ground floor, with the school on the floor abo- bi for the Württemberg rural rabbinate No. 8, 1838 113 pupils ve. The plan of the house still shows the steps with 1140 members in Oberdorf, Aufhausen, 1840 108 pupils into the pool. Pflaumloch and Lauchheim. Later the Jews in Ellwangen, Schwäbisch Gmünd and Schorn- 1844 98 pupils dorf also belonged to the Oberdorf rabbinate, 1847 115 pupils which continued in existence until 1930, when 1848 114 pupils it became part of the rabbinate in Schwäbisch 1850 113 pupils Hall. 1880 63 pupils 30./31. Municipality of Oberdorf, Oberamt Neresheim: Plan and elevation drawings 1900 20 pupils Rabbis in Oberdorf of the Israelite school building of 1881 1903 27 pupils with the women‘s bath (mikveh) on the 1830 – 1834 Moses Bloch 1905 28 pupils ground floor 1835 – 1859 Gabriel 1860 Menco Berlinger The teacher’s salary was initially paid by the Je- 1861 – 1884 Jakob Oberdorfer wish community, but following the law of 1836 1887 – 1894 Dr. Samuel Grün this fell to the town council. Besides the usu- 29. Teacher Erlebacher with pupils 1895 – 1897 Jesaia Strassburger, al subjects, special importance was attached to Administrator learning Hebrew and to religious instruction. In 1924 the Jewish school closed due to lack of 1897 – 1930 Dr. Hermann Kroner pupils. The statutory minimum number of pu- pils for a public school was no longer attained. The school Thereafter Jewish children attended the Prote- stant primary school. The “Law regarding the public relationships The teachers were: Rosenthaler, Maison, Marx of the Israelite community”, dated 25 April and lastly Siegfried Erlebacher.

36 37 House of eternity: The Jewish cemetery

Building a cemetery is a religious duty for a Je- The rest of the land to the west was sold off wish community and important regulations and later built on. must be complied with: the ground must be at least 50 ells outside the village, be surrounded From 1994 by a stone wall with two gates, and have a buil- Today 469 tombstones are preserved in the Je- ding for the funeral preparations. The cemete- wish cemetery. The older ones, made of sands- ry must be planned to last for eternity. Graves tone with rich decoration and inscriptions, are are allocated only once and the deceased await increasingly suffering from erosion. The “Sup- here for their bodily resurrection. port Association for the Former Synagogue in A Jewish cemetery satisfying these requirements Oberdorf” has decided at least to document was planned in Oberdorf in 1824. Prior to that what is there. Funded by donations, a full in- Oberdorf Jews buried their dead in the anci- ventory of the cemetery will be made. ent cemetery in Wallerstein. However, in 1810 Wallerstein became part of Bavaria, and thus the Oberdorf Jews now needed their own cemetery.

1824 The Jewish community acquired a piece of land in the Karkstein road and built a cemete- ry on part of it.

1903 It became necessary to enlarge the cemetery. The Jewish community in Oberdorf applied to the Oberamt in Neresheim for permission to enlarge the cemetery by about 29 ares; the ap- plication was approved in 1904.

1942 There were no longer any Jews living in Ober- dorf. The last burials – at what is today the we- stern edge of the cemetery – were in 1947 and 1948. These are the graves of Polish Jews who 36. Drawing for the extension of the cemetery of the Israelite community in Oberdorf from 1903 died as “displaced persons” in Wasseralfingen, where some of them had worked during the war as forced laborers.

1952 The cemetery was reduced to the size it is to- 32. – 35. Photos of the Jewish cemetery in Ober- day and the cemetery building demolished. dorf. Photos Hildebrand.

38 39 The Jewish population

Development of the Jewish population in Occupation 19th c. 20th c. In the 19th century all the professions were re- Oberdorf can be divided into three phases: Ironmonger 1 presented in the Oberdorf Jewry that are re- from the beginnings until around the year Manufacturer 3 1 quired for a functioning Jewish communi- Carter 1 1700, four to six Jewish families on average Gardner 1 ty. Apart from many craftsmen, the main fo- lived in Oberdorf. Tradesman 56 1 cus was on trade. The tradition of cattle traders Tradesman, butcher 1 in Oberdorf was already clearly emerging. In At the time the community was founded, Laborer 1 the 20th century, however, primarily only tho- around 1710, the number of Jews in Oberdorf Hat maker 1 se occupational groups remain for whom relo- Businessman 29 10 abruptly increased to about 130 persons (do- Churchwarden 1 cation or emigration was impractical. With 19 cumented for the first time in 1723). Until the Farmer 2 cattle traders Oberdorf is still today the main mid-19th century there was continuous deve- Teacher 2 1 transfer site for cattle trading in the region. lopment of the population, achieving a peak Glue manufacturer 1 in 1838 with 545 Jewish inhabitants. At that Liqueur producer 1 In the 20th century women were recorded as Rag-and-bone man 2 time there were, in total, only 1284 persons li- Matzah master baker 1 employed persons for the first time. Thirty Je- ving in Oberdorf. wish women gave their occupation on their no- Butcher 18 37./38. Notices about emigration to America from the newspaper Butcher, cattle dealer 1 1 tice of departure as follows: The freedom of settlement formulated in 1849 no occupation 14 39. Notice of departure of Flora Bernheimer to New York in 1936 in the fundamental rights of the German nati- Economist 1 Employee 1 Horse trader 1 Development of the Jewish population in Oberdorf on had a dramatic effect on the size of the Je- Rabbi 3 Wife/Housewife 15 600 wish community in Oberdorf. Legal counselor 1 Domestic servant 1 No. of Jews Due to migration and emigration – 86 Jews Scroll writer 1 House maid 10 from Oberdorf alone emigrated to the Uni- Tanner 1 Apprentice 1 ted States between 1850 and 1872, and many Apprentice locksmith 1 Shop assistant 2 500 Blacksmith 1 others moved to cities in Germany - the number Taylor 1 of the Oberdorf Jews had already dwindled to Carpenter 1 400 351 persons by 1871. In 1933 there were only Shoemaker 2 87 Jews living in Oberdorf. Schoolteacher 4 Cobbler 2 Saddler 1 300 The same sort of development applies to the Ropemaker 1 range of professions practiced by Jews. Clothmaker 2 Clockmaker 2 200 Occupations of the Oberdorf Jews Cattle dealer 13 19 Weaver, tradesman 1 Occupation 19th c. 20th c. Master weaver 1 Worker 2 Publican 2 100 Doctor 1 Brickworks owner 1 Baker 6 Total 191 39 Banker 2 Bookbinder 1 Confectioner 1 1595 1604 1610 1656 1659 1684 1688 1705 1723 1727 1735 1748 1778 1793 1811 1818 1821 1824 1838 1845 1871 1890 1910 1925 1933 1941 1943 Turner 1 Own goods dealer 1 40. Population development Year

40 41 Trade – Commerce – Industry

“The generally very hard-working inhabitants Weil”, a manufacturer of glue, collagen and de- make their living from crop cultivation, cattle re- gras, founded in 1830. The Oberamt Neres- aring, trades and crafts, and day work; while the heim described it in 1872 as follows: busy Israelites, except for one with a large farm and a few tradesmen, mainly earn their living by “... we also mention the glue, gelatin and fertilizer trading in cattle, metal, down, rags, etc.” factory of Veit Weil, which employs 36 persons and sells annually about 1500 hundredweight of glue, In this description by the Oberamt Neresheim 15000 hundredweight of fertilizer, 1000 hundred- in 1872, there are several mentions of the tradi- weight of bone fat and small quantities of gelati- tion of cattle dealing in Oberdorf, which has its ne throughout Germany, France and America; ...” roots in the 18th century. From Oberdorf the Jewish cattle dealers traveled throughout the surrounding area and further afield, and be- came indispensable to the region’s cattle mar- kets. From their beginnings as “Schmusjuden”, acting as a kind of broker between individu- al farmers, cattle dealing developed on a grand scale in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The 45. Letterhead of the Veit Weil company new railway line from Bopfingen to Stuttgart (1862) gave an added boost to the trade, with Jewish cattle dealers now able to supply the Stuttgart abattoir from Oberdorf. In Oberdorf, the amount of tax revenue from cattle dealers was so high that when their trading licenses were revoked in1939 the town faced major fi- nancial difficulties.

Another focus in trade was on textiles. Espe- cially noteworthy was the Heimann brothers’ factory, which was a wholesaler for woven goods and knitwear, and produced working clothes and linen goods. Besides the parent 41. – 44. Advertisements from the “Bote vom Härtsfeld” newspaper company in Oberdorf, founded in 1832, the company had a branch in Stuttgart on the Kö- nigsstrasse in the early 20th century. In Ober- dorf, many seamstresses worked from home for the company.

The largest employer in Oberdorf was the “Leim-, Collagen und Dégras-Werke Veit

42 43 Oberdorf personalities

Dr. Hermann Kroner, rabbi Karl Weil

(born in 1870 in Münster/Westphalia, died in (1879 – 1935), manufacturer, commercial 1930 in Oberdorf) studied at the theological counselor and freeman of Oberdorf, was one seminary in Breslau, and at Marburg and Hei- of the most noteworthy figures of his home delberg universities. He earned his doctorate town. He was the owner of the Veit Weil, glue, in 1898 from Tübingen for his thesis entitled, collagen and degras factory. The company was “Maimonides’ Commentary on the Bezah Tre- founded in 1830 by Veit Weil, then passed on atise. Published for the first time in the origi- to his son, Michael Weil, and in 1894 to his nal Arabic, with improved Hebrew translations grandson. and annotations.” Karl Weil was a member of the town council This and other scientific work on the same from 1903. On the occasion of his 50th birth- subject singled him out as an eminent Maimo- day, on 18 June 1921, the town council made nides scholar. Rabbi Kroner held office from him an honorary citizen, “in recognition of his 1897 to 1930. On the occasion of his 60th bir- many services to the town in the fields of pu- thday, on 21 March 1930, the town council blic welfare and charity.” sent him a congratulatory letter: This title was taken away from him by the 49. Karl Weil “The Town Council and with us the whole Nazis in 1933. Today a street in Oberdorf is Oberdorf community wish to join with you 46. Rabbi Kroner with schoolchildren from Stuttgart named after him. Of Karl Weil’s many gifts to in celebrating your 60th birthday. We do this Oberdorf, one may be singled out here for spe- with great sincerity. You have always promo- cial mention: On 13 February 1919, the Veit ted our interests whenever possible. For this we Weil company donated 6000 marks to the owe you our heartfelt thanks.” town. The interest on this capital sum was in- tended first for the employees and then for the Dr. Kroner died, completely unexpectedly, on needy inhabitants of the town. 30 July 1930. The Town Council took part in his funeral which was held at midday on Karl Weil is buried in a family grave in the 1 August 1930. Jewish cemetery in Oberdorf.

47. Title page of Hermann Kroner’s doctoral thesis, 1898

48. Hermann Kroner, Contribution to the 50. Honorary citizen certificate for Karl History of Medicine in the 12th Century Weil, Oberdorf, dated 18 June 1921

44 45 German Jews in World War I

“Oberdorf Jews thought of themselves first and foremost as Germans, and only secondly as Jews.” Karl Heiman

Legal integration of Jews in Württemberg was completed with the passing of the last of the equality laws in 1864. The following figures give an indication of how far their integration into society had progressed:

In World War I, Jews from Oberdorf served as soldiers as a matter of course. They were among the 10,824 Jewish “citizens of the Ger- man Reich” in Württemberg and Hohenzol- lern, of whom 1674 served as front-line sol- diers, 270 of whom were killed.

Of the 37 Jewish soldiers from Aufhausen, Bopfingen and Oberdorf, five lost their lives.

Five sons of the Heimann family served in the war.

56. The five sons of the Heimann family who fought at the front, compiled by David Heimann 1933

51. – 55. Military passport of David Heimann and medals won by the Heimann sons. Bequeathed to the Archive of the Support Association for the Former Sy- nagogue in Oberdorf by Karl Heiman

46 47 The Third Reich

“We do not want to be emotional anti-Semites minated in the so-called “Kristallnacht”, meti- but, inspired by a relentless determination, to culously organized by the Nazis, in which sy- attack the evil at its source and exterminate it nagogues all over Germany were set on fire and root and branch.” Jewish shops looted. This was followed by “the Adolf Hitler, 1920 elimination of Jews from the economic sys- tem”: Jewish businesses were forcibly “Aria- This early declaration by Hitler was eagerly ad- nized”, and Jewish property confiscated. opted by the Nazi Party after they seized power in 1933. Anti-Semitism became the state ide- The last, terrible step was the “Final Solution ology and persecution of the Jews the declared of the Jewish Question” devised at the Wannsee policy of the government. Through some 2000 Conference. The first deportations to the exter- laws and regulations, German Jews were syste- mination camps began in 1940. matically ousted from economic, social and cultural life. At least 5.2 million European Jews became vic- tims of this extermination machine, organized First, Jews were “removed” from public office. down to the last detail by the Nazi regime. Further professional bans followed, among them for doctors, lawyers and pharmacists. Je- wish students were prevented from taking ex- ams; Jews were excluded from military service. With the “Reich Citizenship Laws” (Nurem- berg Laws) of 1935, Jews were then denied their civil rights.

“The implementation regulations for the Nurem- berg Laws defined with perfidious attention to de- tail who had to be classified as of German blood, Jew, Grade 1 persons of mixed descent or Grade 2 persons of mixed descent. (Translated from the “Neues jüdisches Lexikon”)

Further laws and regulations ensured the final isolation of Jews in society, for example the ban on employing non-Jewish domestic workers under 45 years of age, and bans on going to the theater, cinemas or public swimming pools.

Jews had to have a special identity card and take either Sarah or Israel as their first name. 57./58. Passport and identity card of the The many outrages against Jewish citizens cul- Heimann family 59./60. Reichsgesetzblatt 1935, Part I, pages 1146/1147. Date of issue: 16 September 1935

48 49 Oberdorf in the Third Reich Boycott

1930 1936 1941 September: Reichstag election. Nazi Party in Two Jews manage to emigrate from Oberdorf. For the last time five Jews manage to emigrate Oberdorf: 31.4 % from Oberdorf. (Up to 1941, 58 Jews mana- 1938 ged to emigrate.) 1931 1st October: Occupational ban imposed on Je- February: A local branch of the Nazi Party is wish cattle dealers in Oberdorf. 20 January 1942 established in Oberdorf with the teacher Dre- Wannsee Conference. At a conference of the her as its leader. 1938 secretaries of state, with Heydrich as Chair- Three Jews manage to emigrate from Oberdorf. man, the “Final Solution of the Jewish Questi- 1931 on” is drawn up. Summer: A local branch of the Communist 1938 Party is established in Oberdorf. 9/10 November: Kristallnacht 26 April 1942 19 Jews from Oberdorf are deported to Izbi- 1932 1939 ca (9 locals, 10 internees). None are known to November: Reichstag election. Nazi Par- From 1939 to 1941, 54 Jews were interned in have survived. ty in Oberdorf: 38.66 % (for comparison, in Oberdorf. They mainly came from the greater Württemberg the Nazi Party got 26.24 %). Stuttgart area, but also from Bopfingen, and 13 July 1942 lived in Oberdorf under appalling conditions. Four Jews from Oberdorf are deported to Aus- 1933 They were billeted on six Jewish households in chwitz; prior to this, all have been interned in 87 Jewish inhabitants living in Oberdorf (com- Oberdorf: Oberdorf. pared to 934 Christians). Haupt Strasse 148 2 persons 22 August 1942 1933 Haupt Strasse 75 5 persons Last deportation train. 41 Jews from Oberdorf Start of emigration. Langen Gasse 20 5 persons are deported to “the hell of Theresienstadt” (12 Haupt Strasse 77 8 persons locals, 29 internees). 1933 Rosch Gasse 97 8 persons On its way to Stuttgart the train (which left End of the year: David Heimann is taken into Langen Gasse 24 24 persons Bopfingen at 10:03 a.m.) picks up further Jews “protective custody” in the local prison because in Lauchheim and Schwäbisch Gmünd. of communist activities; Max Heimann becau- 1939 se of disrespectful remarks about Adolf Hitler. Eleven Jews manage to emigrate from Ober- Thus in total 88 people were deported from dorf. Oberdorf. After that in Nazi terminology 1933 Oberdorf was declared “free of Jews”. Three Jews manage to emigrate from Oberdorf. 1941 61. From 1 to 3 April 1933, the first boycott of Jewish shops was organized throughout the country. In Oberdorf the Heimann family’s drapery shop was Start of deportations from Oberdorf: targeted. The texts on the two signs read: 1934 “The Jews are our misfortune” and “A German does not buy from Jews” One Jew succeeds in emigrating from Ober- 1st December 1941 dorf. 24 Jews from Oberdorf are deported to Riga (13 of them were locals, 11 were internees). Of 1935 those deported only one person, Meta Meyer, Six Jews manage to emigrate from Oberdorf. is known to have survived.

50 51 Protective custody Occupational ban Compulsory liquidation

In 1938 the Jewish cattle dealers had their tra- ding licenses revoked. How much this ultima- tely harmed the economic welfare of the town is revealed by the minutes of the council mee- ting of 17 December 1937:

“Since the real estate register of the Jews is dimi- nishing from year to year and furthermore the Cattle Trading Association in Stuttgart has filed an application with the State Farming Authori- ty to revoke the Jewish cattle dealers’ licenses, the town can expect a very significant decrease in its trade tax revenue.”

The concerns of the council became reality on 1 October 1938, when the Jewish cattle dea- lers’ licenses were indeed revoked. To make up for the loss of Jewish taxes, the municipal tra- de tax in fiscal year 1938 had to be increased to 400 %.

62./63. Correspondence regarding the emigration of Heinrich Heimann

64. Dissolution of the Jewish religious community

52 53 Murder Emigration

Julius Schuster and his son Josef were “picked “When our family was finally able to emigrate to vid and Bertha Heimann, the parents of Heiner, up” following Kristallnacht. Later the investi- the United States of America in August 1939, the Martin-Udo and Karl. gation into the murder of Josef Schuster by the Heimann Torah accompanied us. We disembar- Denazification Court, Aalen, found: ked in New York on 17 August 1939, exactly two We crossed the Atlantic on board of the American weeks before Hitler invaded Poland, thus igniting passenger liner Manhattan. The Statue of Liberty “The Jew Schuster and his son were picked up by World War II. in New York harbor seemed to have a special ra- SA Adjutant Roos of Gmünd on the morning of diance that memorable day.” 9 November 1938 (...), accompanied by another That day, 17 August 1939, happened to also be SA officer and driven in the direction of Utzmem- the 30th wedding anniversary of our parents, Da- Karl Heiman mingen by car. There the Schusters were made to get out of the car and run across a field. Both SA officers opened fire. Schuster Jr. was shot dead, and Schuster Sr. wounded.”

In the register of deaths for Utzmemmingen in 1953, it is recorded that “Schuster, Sepp” died within the boundaries of the town in 1938.

65. Passport of David Heimann 66. Notice of departure of David Heimann’s family, dated 5 August 1939, with their new address in New York

54 55 Deportation and extermination

The fate of the Neumetzger family

“In the cemetery...

Here there is also a tombstone comme- morating the shocking end of Siegfried Neumetzger and his family:

According to a witness, the parents and four children aged 4 to 17 were shot in Lublin in 1942 after the father, Sieg- fried Neumetzger, a front-line soldier in World War I, attacked an SS man who was about to smash the head of their youngest child on a stone.”

Quoted from: Paul Sauer, Jewish Communities in Württemberg and Hohenzollern. Monuments, histo- ry, fates. Published by the State Archive Ad- ministration, Baden-Württemberg 18, Stuttgart 1966, page 143.

The child concerned was Susanne Neumetzger, not yet five years old. 67. Jewish cemetery Bopfingen-Oberdorf. Gravestone of Leopold Neumetzger (23 March 1864 – 23 July 1921) with commemorative inscription

68. Departure into the unknown: On 24 April 1942 the Neumetzger family registered their departure from Oberdorf, giving as their destination: „to the East“

56 57 Opfer à Victims Opfer à Victims

Year of Deported Further Year of Deported Further Name First name Deported on Fate Place of death Name First name Deported on Fate Place of death birth to deported to birth to deported to Abendstern Regina 1881 1941-12-01 Riga Officially declared death Lehmann Isak 1872 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Malytrostinec Date of death: 1942-09-29 Berenz Max 1898 1942-04-26 Izbica Officially declared death Leiter Eduard 1865 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Eastern Europe Officially declared death Berenz Erna 1912 1942-04-26 Izbica Officially declared death Leiter Ernestine 1870 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Eastern Europe Officially declared death Berenz Abraham 1937 1942-04-26 Izbica Officially declared death Leiter Selma(Jette) 1881 1942-04-26 Izbica Date of death: 1942-04-26 Berenz Menasse Manfred 1937 1942-04-26 Izbica Officially declared death Leiter Rosa 1898 1941-12-01 Riga Missing Berenz Bela/Marion 1942 1942-04-26 Izbica Officially declared death Levi Cilli 1881 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Auschwitz Officially declared death Bergmann Johanna 1917 1941-12-01 Riga Levite Heinrich 1877 1942-04-26 Izbica Missing Bernheimer Sigmund 1869 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Date of death: 1943-05-03 Theresienstadt Levite Sara 1882 1942-04-26 Izbica Missing Bernheimer Ida 1878 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Auschwitz Missing Auschwitz Lewinsohn Cäcilie 1880 1941-12-01 Riga Missing Bodenheimer Wilhelm 1868 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Malytrostinec Officially declared death Lindner Adolf Aron 1883 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Date of death: 1944-02-28 Theresienstadt Gressler Sofie 1854 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Date of death: 1943-03-26 Theresienstadt Lindner Theresia 1885 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Auschwitz Officially declared death Heidenheimer Hugo 1872 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Malytrostinec Missing Löwenthal Max 1876 1942-04-26 Izbica Officially declared death Heimann Sali 1880 1941-12-01 Riga Missing Löwenthal Hedwig 1880 1942-04-26 Izbica Officially declared death Heimann Max 1882 1941-12-01 Riga Officially declared death Mendel Rosa 1874 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Malytrostinec Officially declared death Heimann Iulius-Ulrich 1922 1941-12-01 Riga Officially declared death Meyer Senta 1903 1941-12-01 Riga Officially declared death Heinemann Johanna 1862 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Date of death: 1942-09-11 Theresienstadt Meyer Meta 1915 1941-12-01 Riga/ Survived Hilb Jenny 1869 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Date of death: 1942-09-04 Theresienstadt Meyer Gertrud 1922 1941-12-01 Riga Officially declared death Hilb Karoline 1876 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Auschwitz Date of death: 1944-05-16 Auschwitz Meyer Lore 1925 1941-12-01 Riga Officially declared death Kahn Fanny 1871 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Malytrostinec Officially declared death Meyer Fritz 1927 1941-12-01 Riga Officially declared death Kauffmann, Dr. Eugen 1872 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Date of death: 1943-08-03 Theresienstadt Meyer Ilse 1930 1941-12-01 Riga Officially declared death Kaufmann Isak 1860 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Eastern Europe Officially declared death Neumaier Adelheid 1855 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Date of death: 1942-10-30 Theresienstadt Kaufmann Sofie 1868 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Eastern Europe Neumaier Pauline 1860 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Date of death: 1942-09-04 Theresienstadt Kaufmann Elsa 1886 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Auschwitz Officially declared death Neumaier Auguste 1868 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Date of death: 1942-09-23 Theresienstadt Kronacher Siegfried 1883 1941-12-01 Riga Missing Neumetzger Karoline (Lina) 1868 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Malytrostinec Missing Kroner Sofie 1876 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Malytrostinec Officially declared death Neumetzger Sally 1872 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Malytrostinec Officially declared death Lamm Sara 1874 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Malytrostinec Date of death: 1942-09-26 Neumetzger Siegfried 1892 1942-04-26 Izbica Shot Lauchheimer Fanny 1864 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Date of death: 1942-12-29 Theresienstadt Neumetzger Berta 1901 1942-04-26 Izbica Shot

58 59 Opfer à Victims Opfer à Victims

Year of Deported Further Year of Deported Further Name First name Deported on Fate Place of death Name First name Deported on Fate Place of death birth to deported to birth to deported to Neumetzger Leo 1924 1942-04-26 Izbica Shot Wassermann Alfred 1884 1941-12-01 Riga Missing Neumetzger Herbert 1928 1942-04-26 Izbica Shot Wassermann Adolf 1889 1942-07-13 Auschwitz Date of death: 1942-07-12 Neumetzger Bernhard-Paul 1933 1942-04-26 Izbica Shot Wassermann Elise 1889 1942-07-13 Auschwitz Date of death: 1942-07-13 Neumetzger Susanne 1937 1942-04-26 Izbica Shot Wassermann Julius 1927 1942-07-13 Auschwitz Date of death: 1942-07-13 Pappenheimer Moses (Max) 1870 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Date of death: 1942-12-26 Theresienstadt Wertheimer Samuel 1874 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Eastern Europe Officially declared death Pappenheimer Fanny 1876 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Date of death: 1942-09-05 Theresienstadt Wertheimer Sofie 1877 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Malytrostinec Missing Schreiber Bernhard 1871 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Malytrostinec Officially declared death Wertheimer Hermine 1885 1941-12-01 Riga Missing Schreiber Hedwig 1878 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Malytrostinec Officially declared death Schuster Julius 1874 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Malytrostinec Officially declared death Schuster Selma 1883 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Malytrostinec Officially declared death Schuster Elsa 1904 1941-12-01 Riga Date of death: 1941-12-01 Schwabacher Louis 1878 1942-04-26 Izbica Missing Schweizer Max 1877 1942-04-26 Izbica Officially declared death Schweizer Ida 1887 1942-04-26 Izbica Officially declared death Schweizer, Dr. Abraham 1875 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Malytrostinec Officially declared death Sicherer Mina 1873 1941-12-01 Riga ? Date of death: 1945-05-08 Sicherer Albert 1880 1941-12-01 Riga Officially declared death Sicherer Amalie 1890 1941-12-01 Riga Officially declared death Spandow Frida 1876 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Auschwitz Missing Spier Pauline 1874 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Auschwitz Missing Spier Ella 1898 1941-12-01 Riga Missing Sternfeld Berta 1877 1942-07-13 Auschwitz Missing Strauss Stefan 1923 1941-12-01 Riga Date of death: 1942-03-26 Shot ? Thalheimer Moritz 1883 1941-12-01 Riga Officially declared death Thalheimer Bella 1886 1941-12-01 Riga Officially declared death Wachtel Max 1867 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Malytrostinec Officially declared death Wachtel Berta 1878 1942-08-22 Theresienstadt Malytrostinec Officially declared death 69. Jewish cemetery Bopfingen-Oberdorf: Memorial plaques commemorating the victims of Nazi persecution

60 61 Traces of Jewish history in the Ostalb Region

Aalen Essingen Unterschneidheim-Zöbingen Jewish inhabitants are already recorded in the In the 17th and 18th centuries “protected Mentioned since 1520. Jews are mentioned in Middle Age (1412). From about 1900 there are Jews” of the Barons of Woellwarth. the 16th and 17th century. A “Jewish alley” is a several Jewish trading companies. Letter of protection of 1694 for eight families. reminder of their presence. At least two victims of the Nazi dictatorship. Later expelled and accepted in Oberdorf. The- re is a field name “Judenfriedhof ” (Jewish ce- Municipalities with Jewish communities are Spuren jüdischer Geschichte Aalen-Wasseralfingen metery) and a “Judengasse” (Jewish alley). described in the next few pages. im : Few families after 1900. 1933 – 1945 exter- Jüdische Gemeinde nal labor camp of the Natzweiler concentrati- Lauchheim-Röttingen Kleinere Ansiedlung Stödtlen on camp in Alsace; from 1944 containing sur- Resident Jews in the 16th century. “Jewish alley”. Jüdischer Friedhof vivors of the Warsaw Uprising. Ellwangen Neresheim Bopfingen First mentioned 1479 – 1658 (five families). Jews first recorded in 1241. Expelled in 1545. In 1864: 13 persons. Zöbingen After 1850 resettlement following the free- Zipplingen dom of establishment. Around 1900 approx. Neresheim-Dorfmerkingen Baldern Itzlingen 52 Jews. Many Jewish tradesmen, cattle dealers Jews documented between 1555 and 1660. In Eschach Röttingen and merchants. Five Jews from Bopfingen were 1555 three Jews from Dorfmerkingen were ac- Wasser- Lauchheim interned in Oberdorf prior to their deportation cused in a ritual murder trial. alfingen Oberdorf Pflaum- and murder in the extermination camps. Aalen Aufhausen Bopfingen loch Riesbürg-Utzmemmingen Flochberg Bopfingen-Baldern Jews are mentioned in 1487; 1538: four fami- Schwäbisch Utzmemmingen Jewish inhabitants documented in 1344. In lies; Jews last mentioned in 1625. Field “Ju- Gmünd Essingen the 17th century there is a Jewish communi- denhof”. Dorfmerkingen ty with its own synagogue and cemetery. Dri- ven out in 1658. In the 18th century so-called Schechingen Neresheim “court Jews”. Apparently a larger Jewish settlement in the 16th and 17th century. “Jewish alley”, Field Bopfingen-Flochberg “Judenkirchhof (?)”. Jews documented between 1514 and 1538. Stödtlen M = 1: 400.000 Große Kreisstadt Keuperwaldberge Bopfingen-Itzlingen Resident Jews in the first half of the 19th cen- Stadt Albvorland Gemeinde Jews documented at the beginning of the 17th tury (1812: 12 families) until 1871. Stadt- Ortsteil Schwäbische Alb century. Unterschneidheim-Zipplingen 70. Traces of Jewish history in the Ostalb region Eschach Jews in the 16th century, first mentioned 1528. Jewish settlement in the 16th century. “Jewish alley”.

62 63 Jewish community in Aufhausen

1560 1753 1839 1925 The Jew Abraham is mentioned in a legal dis- Aufhausen subordinate to the rabbinate in Oe- Building of the women’s bath opposite the sy- Nine Jews in Aufhausen. pute. ttingen. Rabbi in Aufhausen: Abraham Levi. nagogue. The building still exists today. 1931 1587 1757 1843 The synagogue is closed down. During the 27 Jews live in Aufhausen. Aufhausen subordinate to the country rabbi- 328 Jews in Aufhausen. war the building is used as home for the Hit- nate in Wallerstein. Rabbi in Aufhausen: Löw ler Youth, after the war it is sold and partially 1587 – 1600 Uhlmann. 1854 demolished. 25 Jews from Aufhausen are mentioned in the 378 Jews in Aufhausen: now the largest number mass attendance records from Nördlingen. 1777 of persons. 1933 Building of a new synagogue. Six Jews in Aufhausen. 1643 – 1659 1864 Nine Jews live in Aufhausen. 1788 Rebuilding of the Jewish school. 1940 34 Jewish families in Aufhausen. Last funeral at the Jewish cemetery. 1655 1869 71. Aufhausen synagogue 72. Interior of the Aufhausen synagogue Letter of protection from the Counts of Oet- 1806 211 Jews in Aufhausen. 1941 tingen for the Jews in Aufhausen. Two Jewish school masters live in Aufhausen. Four Jews were murdered during the Nazi 1886 period. 1659 1806 107 Jews in Aufhausen. Expulsion of the Jews from Aufhausen by the Last letter of protection for eight Jewish fami- Count’s widow Isabella Eleonore von Oettingen. lies in Aufhausen. 1900 Public figures: 56 Jews in Aufhausen. 1665 1810 Gabriel Hess was born in Aufhausen in 1817 First mention of the (certainly older) Jewish ce- 42 Jewish families in Aufhausen. 1901 and went on to make a name for himself as a metery: Request by the Jews of Lauchheim to Closure of the Jewish school due to lack of manufacturer in Paris. be allowed to bury their dead in the cemetery 1823 pupils (only five pupils). at Aufhausen is granted on payment of a fee. Building of a new synagogue with classrooms According to a former Jewish inhabitant of Size of the cemetery 4143 m²; 355 tombstones and teacher’s quarters. The old synagogue is 1910 Oberdorf, the large Rheingold brewery in New remain. sold. 15 Jews in Aufhausen. York, founded in 1883, belonged to the Lieb- man family (until 1963) who hailed from Auf- 1705 1824 1910 hausen. 27 Jews in Aufhausen. 234 Jews in Aufhausen. Dissolution of the Jewish community in Auf- hausen due to lack of members; the Jews in Senior teacher Leopold Liebmann (1805 – 1730 1828 Aufhausen remained affiliated to Oberdorf un- 1893) was one of the ablest Israelite educatio- The Jews of Aufhausen are granted permission Founding of a Jewish confessional school; ac- til 1925. nalist of the 19th century in Württemberg. For by the overlord to build a synagogue. commodated in the synagogue as from 1829. many years he ran the Jewish orphanage in Ess- 1914 to 1918 lingen. (P. Sauer) 1736 1832 Ten Jews from Aufhausen fought in World 26 Jewish families (about 130 persons) in Aufhausen subordinate to the rabbinate in War I, three of whom were killed. Aufhausen. Oberdorf. 73. Jewish cemetery in Aufhausen

64 65 Jewish community in Ellwangen Jewish community in Schwäbisch Gmünd

1298 1823 1241 1874 15 Jews are slain during the Rintfleisch po- The Hess family moves to First record of Jews from Schwäbisch Gmünd, Foundation of the Gutmann & Söh- grom in Ellwangen. Ellwangen. who pay 12 silver marks in taxes. Reference to ne bank in Gmünd. a large Jewish community. 1349 1854 1886 Plague in Ellwangen. The Jews are accused of 18 Jews in Ellwangen. 1348 – 1350 67 Jews in Gmünd. being the guilty party and murdered. The Nu- Plague in Schwäbisch Gmünd. remberg memory book alludes to the wiping 1863 “The Jewish community was annihilated by an 1890 out of the Jewish community Ellwangen. 20 Jews in Ellwangen. act of mob violence after being accused of poiso- Foundation of the Israelite commu- ning the well.” nity in Gmünd as part of the rabbi- 1381 1870 nate in Oberdorf. Jews are mentioned again in an Ellwangen Foundation of the Jewish 1412 and 1427 Burials in the cemetery at Oberdorf. rent-roll. community in Ellwangen A Jew tax is again levied: Evidence of a new Je- as part of the rabbinate in wish community. 1890 to 1918 75. Interior of the synagogue Schwäbisch Gmünd 1428 und 1443 Oberdorf. 74. Jewish cemetery in Ellwangen The Jewish community in Gmünd Jews from Ellwangen are buried in the cemete- 1433 maintains a prayer room. 1934 ry in Nördlingen. 1877 1926 to 1933 The Jews of Gmünd together with the Jews The interior of the synagogue in Gmünd is de- A prayer room is installed in the Rössle inn. Prayer room in the chamber building. The Je- from pay 600 gulden “coronation 1900 secrated. 1445 wish community is given notice to quit, at the tax” on the occasion of the coronation of Em- 81 Jews in Gmünd; 1910: 73 Jews in Gmünd; The Jew Koppelmann from Wemding and his 1886 instigation of the Nazi Party, which is looking peror Siegmund. 1914: 71 Jews in Gmünd. 1938 family are admitted to Ellwangen against a pro- 99 Jews in Ellwangen. for an assembly room. 14 Jews in Gmünd. tection fee of 12 gulden. 1469 1914 1892 1935 Expulsion of some of the Jews. They sell their 13 Jewish participants from Gmünd in World 1938 1646 67 Jews in Ellwangen. Dissolution of the Jewish community Ellwangen. synagogue to the town. War I, four of whom are killed. The interior of the synagogue is destroyed in Six Jewish families are granted the right to tra- the Kristallnacht. de on the territory of the princely priory, on 1899 to 1926 1936 1501 1918 condition among others that they do not lend A prayer room exists in the old Capuchin Con- 13 Jews in Ellwangen. The imperial town of Gmünd purchases the right Prayer room in the Hotel Rad. 1939 any citizen more than 40 gulden. vent in the Marienpflege. to expel the Jews from Emperor Maximilian, va- 17 May: The synagogue in the Katharinen 1940 lid for ten years. Some of the Jews from Gmünd 1919 Strasse is sold to the Kreissparkasse savings 1674 1901 There are no more Jews in Ellwangen. find refuge with the Counts of Oettingen. Prayer room in the Prediger building. bank for 21,500 reichsmarks. The right of 1646 may only be passed on to the Establishment of the Jewish cemetery on the first-born child, but not sold. Hungerberg; prior to this burials were in Auf- 1521 1925 1939 hausen. 23 burials in all up to 1938. 19 graves- Karl V declares the expulsion of the Jews from Conversion of a factory building in Katharinen The Israelite community Gmünd is disbanded 1753 tones remain at the cemetery in Ellwangen. Gmünd “in perpetuity”. Strasse 4 to a synagogue. in July. A Jew is arrested for theft. 1910 1861 1926 1941 1767 32 Jews in Ellwangen. Two Jews live in Gmünd. Consecration of the synagogue in Gmünd. 22 of the Jews living in Gmünd in 1933 and The daughter of the Oettingen Court Jew, the new arrivals between 1933 and 1939 are Hänle Mayer, converts to Christianity in 1925 1869 1933 deported. One person, Nanette Rothschild, Ellwangen. 17 Jews in Ellwangen. 22 Jews in Gmünd. 90 Jews in Gmünd. survived the deportation.

66 67 Jewish community in Lauchheim

1658 1717 1788 1832 Six Jewish families are driven out of the coun- 61 Jews in Lauchheim. 88 Jews in Lauchheim. Affiliated to the rabbinate Oberdorf. ty of Oettingen-Baldern. They are accepted in Lauchheim by the Commander of the Teuto- 1728 to 1733 1806 1843 nic Knights, Philipp von Gravenegg, for a peri- Rabbi Schmul Bloch. Lauchheim initially belongs to the Ellingen 124 Jews in Lauchheim. od of ten years on payment of protection mo- rabbinate; from 1806 to 1832 to the rabbinate ney; among them is the family of the cantor 1743 of Wallerstein. 1849 Koppel Rabin. The letter of protection speci- The synagogue burns down. The Jewish community purchases a house for fies what they are permitted to do: to carry on 1807 5000 gulden to house the school, mikveh, trade of all kinds. 1744 to 1751 78 Jews in Lauchheim. teacher’s quarters and a meeting room. Rabbi Josef Isaak. 1658 1823 1856 – 1859 Six Jewish families in Lauchheim. 1768 – 1770 97 Jews in Lauchheim. The synagogue is renovated and enlarged. Building of a new synagogue. 1886: 107 Jews in Lauchheim. 1910: 32 Jews 1668 1829 in Lauchheim. The six Jewish homeowners in Lauchheim pay 1775 New Jewish school building. 10 thalers per house, those renting pay five tha- Mention is made of a class room for Jewish 1914 lers and the parish priest four thalers. children. The Jewish school is closed due to lack of pu- pils. 1668 The Jews of Lauchheim trade in cattle and 1914 – 1918 77. Lauchheim synagogue. Press photo prior to being demolished goods as well as acting as middlemen. Isaak Hess Seven Jews from Lauchheim fought in the war, S. Freimann was killed. 1678 was born in Lauchheim in 1789 and at age 13 55 Jews in Lauchheim. was sent to the rabbinical school in Fürth. Af- 1921 1942 ter four years, he chose to learn a commercial The synagogue is sold. Six Jews are deported and murdered in 1686 profession in Harburg and . In 1817 the extermination camps. First mention of a synagogue. he was elected head of the Jewish community 1922 in his hometown where he set up an antiqua- The Jewish community Lauchheim is disban- 1965 1691 rian bookshop. In 1823 he moved to Ellwan- ded and the Jews assigned to Oberdorf. The former synagogue is demolished. The Jews are freed from compulsory service, gen where he founded a boarding school for Je- guard duty and running errands, on payment wish theologians following an examination be- 1925 of a fee of 24 gulden. fore the consistory. Above all he showed great 11 Jews in Lauchheim. commitment to the care of Jewish orphans. In 1716 1830 he founded the “Württemberg Associati- 1933 Lauchheim has an own rabbi. on for the Care of Poor Israelite Orphans and Seven Jews in Lauchheim. Neglected Children” which continued in exi- 1716 stence until the Third Reich. He died in Ell- 1938 A school master for Jewish children is menti- wangen in 1866 and was buried in the Jewish The synagogue is deconsecrated and later used oned. 76. Isaak Hess cemetery in Aufhausen. as a barn. 78. Former Jewish school in Lauchheim

68 69 Jewish community in Pflaumloch

1487 1658 1687 1735 Protected Jews of the Counts of Oettingen live Seven Jewish families in Pflaumloch. 15 Jewish households in eight houses. According to the letter of in Pflaumloch. protection: 15 protected Jews 1668 1688 with their families. 1490 – 1494 Nine Jewish homeowners in Pflaumloch. 18 Jewish families live in eight houses. Jews of Pflaumloch are buried in the cemetery 1752 in Nördlingen. 1684 1731 The Jews from Pflaumloch The Jew named David owns property worth Pflaumloch is assigned to the country rabbi- are permitted to lend money 1491 5000 gulden while the other 14 members of nate of Wallerstein. at an interest of up to 8 %. Jews from Nördlingen settle in Pflaumloch. the community have assets of between 50 and 400 gulden. 1756 1538 About 18 Jewish families in Notary Binder from Pflaumloch build a synago- Nördlingen visits the Jews gue with the permission of in Pflaumloch to try and the Count. prevent them settling wi- thin a two league zone 1779 around Nördlingen. 18 protected Jews and their families in Pflaumloch. 1563 A Jew from Pflaumloch 1788 named Hirsch is menti- 15 protected Jews and their oned in a legal dispute in families in Pflaumloch. Bopfingen. 1802 1587 – 1600 The synagogue is burnt 46 Jews from Pflaumloch down in a major fire. 18 Je- are recorded as attending wish houses and 33 Christian the Pentecostal Fair in houses are also destroyed. 80. Jewish cemetery in Pflaumloch Nördlingen. 1803 1590 A new synagogue is built on the same site. 1812 1829 Schoolmaster Moses in 112 Jews in Pflaumloch. With fear of cholera, a plot of land is purchased Pflaumloch. 1806 for a cemetery, but the cemetery is not built. Last letter of protection for the Jews in Pflaum- 1821 1649 loch for 34 protected Jews and their families. A mikveh is established in Pflaumloch. 1831 A letter of protection is is- 221 Jews in Pflaumloch. sued which also covers the 1806 1824 Jews from Pflaumloch. Only 7 % interest may now be charged in mo- 187 Jews in Pflaumloch. 79. Former synagogue in Pflaumloch. Today the town hall of Riesbürg neylending.

70 71 1832 1869 The letter granting him the freedom of the The mikveh is relocated to the newly built rab- 155 Jews in Pflaumloch. town reads: binate building which also houses the school and the teacher’s quarters. The old mikveh is 1877 “This is to grant the generous donor of the com- sold to master butcher Samson Löwengard. Only 20 Jews still registered as pursuing a trade. munity hall in Pflaumloch, Commercial Coun- selor Mr. Alexander von Pflaum in Stuttgart, in 1837 1882 gratitude the honorary citizenship of the munici- The Jewish community purchases a plot of Only 10 Jews now registered as pursuing a trade. pality of Pflaumloch and personally hand over the land next to the Christian cemetery and builds letter of honorary citizenship on the occasion of a cemetery there. 1886 the handover ceremony at the community hall.” 74 Jews in Pflaumloch. 1840 – 1905 He is commemorated by a brass plaque near 53 burials in the Jewish cemetery. 1895 the entrance to the building and by a street Only six Jews still registered as pursuing a trade. which is named after him. 1843 242 Jews in Pflaumloch. 1900 21 Jews in Pflaumloch. 1844 After acquiring a farmstead on the main road, a 1906 new synagogue is built and completed in 1846 Disbanding of the Jewish community. at a cost of 20,000 gulden. 1906 1846 Alexander von Pflaum donates the now de- 18 December: Consecration of the new syna- funct synagogue building to the town council gogue. in Pflaumloch. 81. Alexander von Pflaum 1847 1926 The old synagogue is sold to the Jews Simon Desecration of the Jewish cemetery. 17 graves- Former synagogue of the Dessauer, Markus Ellinger and Salomon Jung tones are damaged. Alexander von Pflaum Jewish community in Pflaumloch who convert it into a coach house, threshing Born in Pflaumloch in 1839, died in Former citizen of Pflaumloch and floor and stables. 1964 in 1911. Commercial Counselor Alexander von Pflaum Conversion of the former synagogue to be- owner of the Pflaum & Co. bank in Stuttgart 1850 – 1876 come the town hall. As commercial counselor, banker, industrialist donated this building to the municipality 60 Jews leave their hometown: 28 emigrate to and Saxon consul general he had a major influ- in 1907. America, 32 to larger towns. ence on the banking sector in Württemberg. Like his father before him, he also was a gene- Alexander von Pflaum * 4 June 1839 in Pflaumloch 1854 rous philanthropist, gifting the former synago- † 14 December 1911 in Berlin 255 Jews in Pflaumloch (total population: 558 gue his hometown in his lifetime. The munici- persons). pality thanked him by making him an hono- rary citizen. 82. Riesbürg-Pflaumloch, memorial plaque at the entrance to the town hall

72 73 Display Cabinet with Religious Artifacts

In 1997 Bernard Noymer (formerly Neumetz- cance of the religious artifacts. With his chan- ger) visited Oberdorf with his wife, Sandra ting, Moshe Hayoun, cantor of the Stuttgart Noymer, and their four children. Synagogue, reminded the numerous guests at- tending the ceremony of the time when Ober- It was his greatest wish to show his four child- dorf was the focal point of a large Jewish com- ren the village where their Neumetzger ance- munity. stors had lived for many generations since early in the 18th century. For the Neumetzger fami- ly, the visit to the time-honored Oberdorf Sy- nagogue was both moving and harrowing.

The murder of Siegfried Neumetzger and his family in the Izbica extermination camp is among those commemorated in the museum that now occupies the synagogue building.

On his return to the USA, Bernard Noymer decided to set up a trust for “his” old synago- gue in Oberdorf as a sign of enduring solida- At a ceremony numerous religious artifacts were presented by the Noymer family to rity. The artifacts used in Jewish families on the Support Association for the Former the Sabbath should be shown in a display cabi- Synagogue in Oberdorf. From the left: Dr. Diethelm Winter, retired Head of the net next to the cabinet in which the Heimann District Administration, Ruth Noymer, Sandra Noymer, Bernard Noymer, Felix Su- Torah scroll is displayed. tschek, the town‘s Cultural Affairs’ Officer, and Arno Fern.

The Support Association for the Former Syna- Foto: Schwäbische Post gogue in Oberdorf was overjoyed by this de- monstration of the Noymer family‘s close ties with the center of its forefathers‘ religious life in Oberdorf, and ensured the rapid realization of the project, which was financed entirely by Bernard Noymer.

In a ceremony held in September 2000, Ber- nard Noymer presented the display cabinet containing religious artifacts to the Chair- man of the Support Association, Dr. Diethelm Winter.

Arno Fern, of the Israelite Religious Commu- nity in Württemberg, explained the signifi-

74 75 “Eternal Light”

Following the death of our good friend Ber- gins, in particular to the old synagogue, now nard Noymer in 2004, his brother, Arthur a museum in memory of the Jewish inhabi- Noymer, stepped into his shoes to continue the tants of Oberdorf,” he donated the entire be- close relationship between the Noymer fami- quest to the Support Association for its long- ly and the Support Association for the Former term use. Synagogue in Oberdorf. It has enabled us to put our work in the strugg- Together with his brother, Fritz Noymer, he le against anti-Semitism and xenophobia on a donated an “Eternal Light” in memory of his firm financial footing, and to secure and ex- brother to the former synagogue in Oberdorf, tend it. which has come to be close to the hearts of all the Noymers. Until his death in January 2013, there was an extremely friendly relationship between Arthur In May 2005 the sanctuary lamp, created by Noymer and his son David, and those respon- Jacob Abitbol, was presented to Dr. Diethelm sible for our Support Association. Just a few Winter, Chairman of the Support Associati- weeks before he died, we received further sub- on, by Arthur Noymer at a ceremony follow- stantial financial assistance from Arthur Noy- ing a moment of silence in memory of Ber- mer for our Support Association, which will nard Noymer. enable us to successfully accomplish our cur- rent project. Almost the entire Noymer family (18 people in all) made the journey from the USA to be pre- We are very grateful for all his help and will re- sent at this memorable occasion. They were all vere the memory of our friend and benefactor deeply moved by this experience in the home- Arthur Noymer. land of their Neumetzger forefathers. “Hear, oh Israel” is written in Hebrew, together with an inscription about the donation, on the base of the sanctuary lamp, created by Jewish artist, Jacob Just prior to this, in February 2005, Arthur Abitbol. Arthur Noymer (r.) and our Chairman, Dr. Diethelm Winter, at the Noymer decided to provide permanent sup- presentation. port for our work in the former synagogue in Oberdorf. Foto: Schwäbische Post.

Arthur Noymer did not want to keep for him- self any of the funds released following the ru- ling of an international court and stemming from the estate of Siegfried Neumetzger, who was murdered in the extermination camp at Iz- bica during the Third Reich.

With the words, “I think it is appropriate that this money should be returned to its ori-

76 77 Appendix Appendix

List of Illustrations References in the text: History of the Jews in 22.) idem, Uk. 538. Aalen 1995. the Ostalb Region 23.) idem, Uk. 549. 54.) Hofmann, Rolf, Die Liebmann Brauerei in New York, 1. Display cabinet in the museum. Photo Hildebrand. citizenship: The renunciation of citizenship certificate of Hein- from Jews”. Photo Heimann. Archive of the Support Association 24.) Müller, Ludwig, Aus fünf Jahrhunderten, I, in Vortragsmanuskript. 2. Displays about Jewish history. Photo Hildebrand. rich Essinger, Neresheim 1869. Town Archive Bopfingen. for the Former Synagogue in Oberdorf. Zeitschrift des Historischen Vereins für Schwaben und 55.) Hahn, Joachim, S. 403. 3. View of the interior. Photo Hildebrand. 29. Teacher Erlebacher with pupils. Archive of the Support 62./63. Correspondence concerning the emigration of Heinrich 1.) Gay, Ruth, Geschichte der Juden in Deutschland, Verlag Neuburg, , 1898, S. 80. 56.) Auszug aus dem Gemeinderatsprotokoll von Oberdorf, 4. Torah scroll and religious artifacts. Photo Hildebrand. Association for the Former Synagogue in Oberdorf. Heimann. Town Archive Bopfingen. C. H. Beck, München 1993, S. 16 – 22. 25.) Landeskirchliches Archiv Stuttgart, Pfarrei Bopfingen, Band 37, Blatt 69b, Archiv Oberdorf. 5. Former synagogue in Bopfingen-Oberdorf. Photo Hilde- 30./31. Municipality of Oberdorf, Oberamt Neresheim: Plan 64. Letter concerning the Dissolution of the Jewish religious 2.) Battenberg, Friedrich, Das Europäische Zeitalter der Nr. 9, unpaginiert. 57.) Forschungen des Trägervereins ehemalige Synago- brand. and elevation drawings of the Israelite school building of 1881 community. Town Archive Bopfingen. Juden, Band I, Verlag Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, 26.) Müller, Ludwig, II, S. 180. ge Oberdorf, Siehe entsprechende Museumstafeln der 6. Dues paid by the Jews in Oberdorf, 1793. Town Archive with the women‘s bath (mikveh) on the ground floor. Town 65. Passport of David Heimann. Archive of the Support Associ- Darmstadt 1990, S. 46 – 48. 27.) idem, II, S. 180. jüdischen Gemeinden des Ostalbkreises in der ehemalige Bopfingen. Archive Bopfingen. ation for the Former Synagogue in Oberdorf. 3.) Deutsche Geschichte, Band II, Herausgeber Heinrich 28.) Fedyna, Holger, Was bleibt: Der Judengumpen, in Synagoge. 7. Jewish cemetery in Oberdorf. Photo Hildebrand. 32.–35. Photos of the Jewish cemetery in Oberdorf. Photos 66. Notice of departure of David Heimann’s family, dated 5 Pleticha, Bertelsmann Lexikon Verlag, S. 200 – 201. Ostalb Einhorn 2002, Nr. 113, S. 28. 58.) idem. 4.) Gidal, Nachum T., Die Juden in Deutschland von der 8. One of the display cabinets with religious artifacts in Ober- Hildebrand. August 1939, stating their new address in New York. Town 29.) idem, S. 27. 59.) idem. Römerzeit bis zur Weimarer Republik, Bertelsmann Lexikon dorf. Photo Hildebrand. 36. Drawing for the extension of the cemetery of the Israelite Archive Bopfingen. 30.) Wierlemann, Sabine/Kenntner, Nina, Steine der Erin- 60.) idem. Verlag, 1988, S. 34 – 35. 9. The synagogue around 1900. Detail from a postcard. Town community in Oberdorf from 1903. Town Archive Bopfingen. 67. Jewish cemetery Bopfingen-Oberdorf. Gravestone of Leopold nerung, ungedrucktes Manuskript, Ellwangen 1990, S. 30. 61.) idem. 5.) Michael A. Meyer (Hrsg.), Deutsch-Jüdische Geschichte Archive Bopfingen. 37./38. Notices about emigration to America from the newspa- Neumetzger (23 March 1864 – 23 July 1921) with commemo- 31.) Müller, Ludwig, II, S. 84. 62.) Sutschek, Felix, S. 28. in der Neuzeit, Band I, Verlag C. H. Beck, München, 1996, 32.) Fedyna, Holger, S. 29. 10. Former synagogue in Oberdorf, 1988. Photo Hildebrand. per. Town Archive Bopfingen. rative inscription. Photo Hildebrand. 63.) idem, S. 29. S. 36. 33.) Sauer, Paul, Die jüdischen Gemeinden in Württem- 11. Oberdorf synagogue, Plan of the ground floor. Sketch by 39. Notice of departure of Flora Bernheimer to New York in 68. Departure into the unknown: On 24 April 1942 the Neu- 64.) idem, S. 29. 6.) Thomas Klein, Volker Losemann, Gunther Mai (Hrsg.), berg und Hohenzollern, W. Kohlhammer Verlag, Stuttgart, 65.) idem, S. 29. Chaim Heimann, Hod Hasharon and Arthur Reis. 1936. Town Archive Bopfingen. metzger family registered their departure from Oberdorf, giving Judentum und Antisemitismus von der Antike bis zur Ge- 1966, S. 113 – 114. 12. Men’s entrance. Photo Hildebrand. 40. Population development. Chart Hildebrand. as their destination: “to the East”. Town Archive Bopfingen. genwart, Droste Verlag, Düsseldorf, 1984, S. 70 – 71. 34.) idem, S.149. 41. – 44. Advertisements from the “Bote vom Härtsfeld” news- 69. Jewish cemetery Bopfingen-Oberdorf: Memorial plaque in 13. Women’s entrance. Photo Hildebrand. 7.) Schubert, Kurt, Jüdische Geschichte, Verlag C. H. Beck, 35.) idem, S. 29 – 31. 14. Offertory box. Photo Hildebrand. paper. Town Archive Bopfingen. memory of the victims of Nazi persecution. Photo Hildebrand. München 1996, S. 51. 36.) idem, S. 139 – 142. 15. East wall with the Menorah by Georg Sternbacher. Photo 45. Letterhead of the Veit Weil company. Town Archive 70. Traces of Jewish history in the Ostalb region. Map Hilde- 8.) Schwalm, J., Ein unbekanntes Eingangsverzeichnis 37.) Saal und Lagerbuch über Oberndorf von 1793, Band Hildebrand. Bopfingen. brand. von Steuern der königlichen Städte aus der Zeit Kaisers II, S. 34 – 35, Archiv Oberdorf. 16. Torah shrine in the Pflaumloch synagogue around 1900. 46. Rabbi Kroner with schoolchildren from Stuttgart. Archive of 71. Aufhausen synagogue. From: Oberrat of the Israelite Reli- Friedrichs des II., Neues Archiv der Gesellschaft für ältere 38.) idem, S. 34. From: Oberrat of the Israelite Religious Community Württem- the Support Association for the Former Synagogue in Oberdorf. gious Community Württemberg (ed.), Jewish places of worship deutsche Geschichtskunde 23, 18, S. 526. 39.) idem, S. 35. berg (ed.), Jewish places of worship and cemeteries in Württem- 47. Title page of Hermann Kroner’s doctoral thesis, Munich and cemeteries in Württemberg, Frankfurt 1932/Reprint 9.) S. Salfeld (Hrsg.), Quellen zur Geschichte der Juden in 40.) idem, S. 36. berg, Frankfurt 1932/Reprint Haigerloch 2002, p. 116. 1898. Town Archive Bopfingen. Haigerloch 2002, p. 53. Deutschland, Band III, Berlin 1898, S. 271. 41.) idem, S. 36. 17. Torah shrine in the Aufhausen synagogue before 1931. 48. Hermann Kroner, Contribution to the History of Medicine 72. Interior of the Aufhausen synagogue. From: Oberrat of the 10.) Burmeister, Karl-Heinz, Der Schwarze Tod, Jüdisches 42.) Oberdorf Judenschaft Gänsgeld, Abschriften III. 18.8b- From: Oberrat of the Israelite Religious Community Württem- in the 12th Century. Town Archive Bopfingen. Israelite Religious Community Württemberg (ed.), Jewish places Museum Göppingen, 1999, S. 14 – 15. 2, Fürstlich Oettingen-Wallersteinisches Archiv, Harburg. berg (ed.), Jewish places of worship and cemeteries in Württem- 49. Karl Weil. Archive of the Support Association for the Former of worship and cemeteries in Württemberg, Frankfurt 1932/ 11.)H. Enßlin u.a., Bopfingen Freie Reichsstadt Mittel- 43.) Saal und Lagerbuch, S. 37. berg, Frankfurt 1932/Reprint Haigerloch 2002, p. 54. Synagogue in Oberdorf. Reprint Haigerloch 2002, p. 54. punkt des württembergischen Rieses, Stuttgart, 1971, S. 44.) Schutzbrief für Wallerstein, Pflaumloch und Oberdorf, 18. Torah portion from the 16th/17th century. Archive of the 50. Honorary citizen certificate for Karl Weil, Oberdorf, from 73. Jewish cemetery in Aufhausen. Photo Hildebrand. 184. Abschriften, III. 18.8b-2 Fürstlich Oettingen- Wallerstei- Support Association for the Former Synagogue in Oberdorf. 18 June 1921. Town Archive Bopfingen. 74. Jewish cemetery in Ellwangen. Photo Hildebrand. 12.) Wilfried Braun (Bearb.), Quellen zur Geschichte der nisches Archiv, Harburg. 19. Torah scroll of the Heimann family. Photo Hildebrand. 51. – 55. Military passport of David Heimann and medals 75. Interior of the Gmünd synagogue. From: Oberrat of the Juden bis zum Jahr 1600, Hauptstaatsarchiv Stuttgart, 45.) Schutzbriefe aus den Jahren: 1719, III. 18.5a-1, 1727, 20. Map of Jewish communities in Germany before 1238. won by the Heimann sons. Bequeathed by Karl Heiman to the Israelite Religious Community Württemberg (ed.), Jewish places 1982, Urkunde 229. III. 18.5a-1, 1735, III. 18.5a‑1, 1752, III. 18.5a-1, 1761, After: Judaica. From: Nachum T. Gidal, The Jews in Archive of the Support Association for the Former Synagogue in of worship and cemeteries in Württemberg, Frankfurt 1932/ 13.) Herrmann, Klaus Jürgen, Zur Geschichte der Juden II. 588-1, 1788, III. 18.5a-1, alle FÖWAH. Germany from Roman times to the Weimar Republic, Gütersloh Oberdorf. Reprint Haigerloch 2002, p. 77. in Schwäbisch Gmünd im Mittelalter, Einhorn Jahrbuch, 46.) Schutzbrief von 1719, III. 18.5a-1, FÖWAH. Schwäbisch Gmünd, 1995, S. 122 – 123. 1988, p. 32. 56. The five sons of the Heimann family who fought at the 76. Isaak Hess. Archive of the Support Association for the 47.) Extractus Protocolli, Acto Oberdorff den 16. August 14.) Staatsarchiv , B 165, Büschel 30. 1747, Archiv Oberdorf, Judensachen. 21. Towns with protected Jews in the County of Oettingen. Map front, compiled by David Heimann 1933. Archive of the Sup- Former Synagogue in Oberdorf. 15.) Braun, Quellen, 297. 48.) Regierungsblatt für das Königreich Württemberg vom Hildebrand. port Association for the Former Synagogue in Oberdorf. 77. Lauchheim synagogue. Press photo prior to being demo- 16.) Herrmann, S. 124. Jahr 1828, S. 542 – 553, Archiv Bopfingen. 22. View of Bopfingen and Oberdorf. Photo Hildebrand. 57./58. Passport and identity card of the Heimann family. lished. Archive of the Support Association for the Former 17.) Braun, Quellen, 315. 49.) Hauptstaatsarchiv Stuttgart, E201c Bü 23. 23. Map of the County of Oettingen, 1744. Town Archive Archive of the Support Association for the Former Synagogue in Synagogue in Oberdorf. 18.) Herrmann, S. 124. 50.) Regierungsblatt für das Königreich Württemberg von Oberdorf. 78. Former Jewish school in Lauchheim. Photo Hildebrand. Aalen. 19.) Günther Stemberger (Hrsg.), Die Juden, Verlag C. H. Jahr 1828, S. 283 – 286, Archiv Bopfingen. 24. Addendum to Letter of Protection of 1778, page 1, Town 59./60. Reichsgesetzblatt 1935, Part I, pages 1146/1147. Date 79. Former synagogue in Pflaumloch. Today the town hall of Beck, München 1995, S. 176 – 177. 51.) Sutschek, Felix, Widerstand gegen die Judenverfolgung Archive Bopfingen. of issue: 16 September 1935. Archive of the Ostalb Region. Riesbürg. Photo Hildebrand. 20.) Dertsch, Richard/Wulz, Gustav, Die Urkunden der in Oberdorf, in Ostalb Einhorn 1997, Nr. 93, S. 21. 25. Addendum to Letter of Protection of 1778, page 2, Town 61. From 1 to 3 April 1933 the first boycott of Jewish shops was 80. Jewish cemetery in Pflaumloch. Photo Hildebrand. fürstlich-oettingischen Archive in Wallerstein und Oettin- 52.) Hahn, Joachim, Geschichte der Juden im Westries, in Archive Bopfingen. organized throughout the country. In Oberdorf the Heimann 81. Alexander von Pflaum. Archive of the Support Association gen 1197 – 1350, Verlag der Schwäbischen Forschungs- Dokumentationsband Rieser Kulturtage 1988, S. 403. 26. Addendum to Letter of Protection of 1778, page 3, Town family’s drapery shop was targeted. The texts on the two signs for the Former Synagogue in Oberdorf. gemeinschaft, Augsburg, 1959, Reihe 2 a, Urkunden und 53.) Sutschek, Felix/Hildebrand, Bernhard, Quellen zur Archive Bopfingen. read: 82. Commemorative plaque in the town hall in Pflaumloch. Regesten, Uk. 361. Geschichte der Oberdorfer Juden I, Schicksale 1934 – 27/28. The precondition for emigration was the renunciation of “The Jews are our misfortune” and “A German does not buy Photo Hildebrand. 21.) idem, Uk. 385. 1943, ungedrucktes Manuskript, Kreisarchiv Ostalbkreis,

78