Shalom am Rhein - 1000 Jahre Judentum in Rheinland-Pfalz
Mainz
from 05.02.2026 to 04.12.2026 - at 10:00 o'clock
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Mainz
from 05.02.2026 to 04.12.2026 - at 10:00 o'clock
The exhibition "Shalom am Rhein" portrays an impressive panorama of over 1000 years of Jewish life in Rhineland-Palatinate. At the center are the significant SchUM communities of Speyer, Worms, and Mainz, which shaped European Jewry in the Middle Ages and are now recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The same places that were once centers of knowledge, culture, and religious life also became scenes of persecution, exclusion, and destruction throughout history.
Through touching objects, impressive biographies, and visible traces of destruction and new beginnings, the exhibition at the Landesmuseum Mainz offers new perspectives on the coexistence of Jewish and non-Jewish society. Jewish history is presented not only as a narrative of suffering but as a rich, multifaceted cultural history that is inextricably linked to the region.
A particular focus is on rural Jewry, which developed away from the large cities and shaped the image of the region over centuries. In small communities, between church towers and village squares, Jewish women and men lived as a minority within the majority society. Synagogues and cemeteries still bear witness to this everyday life, which was characterized by adaptation and at the same time a strong will to preserve their own traditions. This balance granted the communities a special strength.
The significant role of women is also made visible, as they took on responsibility early in family, religion, and trade, demonstrating a remarkable degree of independence. Thus, "Shalom am Rhein" unfolds a vibrant picture of Jewish life between urban and rural, integration and exclusion, tradition and renewal.
