Mainz is one of the oldest Jewish communities in Europe and was a significant center of Jewish scholarship in the Middle Ages. The main synagogue, built in 1912 on Hindenburgstraße, was destroyed during the pogrom night in 1938. Decades later, a new Jewish community center with synagogue was built at exactly this location - a visible symbol of the continuing Jewish life in Mainz.
The new synagogue was solemnly inaugurated on September 3, 2010. Designed by the Cologne architect Manuel Herz, the building with its special language of form is based on the Hebrew word Keduschah (sanctification), whose five letters shape the structure of the building. The green-glazed ceramic elements on the façade and the striking, asymmetric form create a clear architectural statement that consciously sets itself apart from traditional building forms.
The synagogue is not only a place of faith and community but also a place of remembrance. In the forecourt, reconstructed fragments of the columned portico of the old synagogue from 1912 stand, connecting the past and the present. With the renaming of Hindenburgstraße to "Synagogue Square," the historical and current significance of Jewish life has also been reflected in the cityscape.
Visitation: Tours of the new synagogue are possible by prior appointment via the website of the Jewish Community. Visitors gain insights into the history of the Mainz Jewish community, the architecture of the building, and the current community life.
