The Judengasse was for centuries the center of the Jewish residential area in Mainz. In 1662, a decree by the Elector Johann Philipp von Schönborn restricted the living space of the Jewish population to this street, which was closed at both ends with gates.
Previously, Jewish families had re-settled in the city after a long absence. Their stay was temporary and tied to payments of protection money. As their economic presence grew, tensions increasingly arose. As a result, the rights of the Jewish population were restricted: only a limited number of families were allowed to stay, trade was regulated, and living outside the designated street was prohibited.
Over time, the limited space led to a densely built neighborhood with narrow, multi-story houses. Later, the residential area was expanded to two parallel streets. In 1684, a synagogue was built there. Around 1790, about 540 Jewish people lived in Mainz – just under one percent of the city's population.
It was not until 1768 that Jewish families were again allowed to live outside the enclosed area.
