Location: Worms, Germany
The city of Worms had little attraction that piqued my interest, so I chose to visit a synagogue, which I never did in my past travels before. A synagogue is a Jewish place of worship and although I came across a few in my travels, I had never entered one.
Itinerary and full experience of my visit to Germany can be accessed through the link below:
The city of Worms had little attraction that piqued my interest, so I chose to visit a synagogue, which I never did in my past travels before. A synagogue is a Jewish place of worship and although I came across a few in my travels, I had never entered one.
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| A modern sculpture for commemorating Rabbi Rashi, the founder of Worms Old Synagogue. |
The Old Synagogue of Worms is rebuilt in 1961, the original having burnt on Kristalnacht in 1938 and then further damaged during World War II bombings. Its first structures were built in 1034, making this the oldest existing synagogue in Germany, but it was destroyed by crusaders in 1096 due to anti-Jewish sentiments. The synagogue had a truly sad history as further destruction occurred throughout the centuries caused by pogroms.
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| Exterior structure of the Worms Old Synagogue from the courtyard |
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| Exterior structure of Worms Old Synagogue |
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| Historical description of Old Synagogue |
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| Original inscription by the founder, Rabbi Rashi, placed at the entrance. |
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| Description of the Old Synagogue |
Even so, the synagogue has preserved a little of its historical charm in its reincarnation. As much as the original stones were reused during the rebuild, so it is still correct to claim that the original synagogue still exists. At the entrance of the synagogue, the original inscription by the founder, Rabbi Rashi, was embedded, and a modern sculpture of the founder is placed int he courtyard. The interior arches, windows and columns followed the late Romanesque style and Gothic style.
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| Torch |
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| Interior |
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| Altar |
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| Altar |
Although the Old Synagogue is small and it was not very photogenic, it was still a memorable experience for me who had never entered one before. The sad history of the synagogue also highlights its robustness in withstanding the trials of time as it stands up again and again despite being destroyed by anti-Jewish sentiments.
Environment: A religious temple
Suitable for: History buffs
Visit worthiness: 5.0/10
Historical value: 4.0/5.0
Architectural value: 2.0/5.0
Photographic value: 2.0/5.0
Landmark value: 2.0/5.0
Entrance Fee: free
Opening Hours: (Apr - Oct) daily 10.00 am - 12.30 pm and 1.30 – 5.00 pm
(Nov - Mar) daily 10.00 am - 12.00 pm and 2.00 pm – 4.00 pm
Best Moment to Visit: Daytime
Length of Visit: less than 1 hour
E-mail: stadtarchiv@worms.de
Address: Jewish Synagogue, Synagogenplatz (in der Judengasse), 67547 Worms, Germany.
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