Evangelical Lutheran parish of St Matthew / former synagogue

History of the Jews in Höchberg

Following the expulsion of the Jews from the town and the diocese of Würzburg under Prince-Bishop Friedrich von Wirsberg (1558- 1573), settlements were initially formed near to the town.

There is evidence of Jewish inhabitants in Höchberg since 1679. In 1709, the St Burkard Knights’ Abbey provided Jews with a residential building in Wirtgasse for rent.

The synagogue
Before the synagogue was built, Abraham Fromm made his house available as a place of worship.

This was converted and extended into a synagogue in 1721, where services were held until 1931. The renovation and extension took place in 1855. 1

It was not until 1908 that the Jewish community utilized the abundant spring water under the synagogue and built a mikvah in the synagogue building below the women’s area. Unfortunately, absolutely nothing of that is left. Before the mikvah was built, immersion baths were used for ritual ablutions  in Christian houses.

On 10 November 1938, during the Reichsprogromnacht, SA men looted and destroyed the interior of the synagogue. On the evening of the same day, SA men from Höchberg in particular demolished the homes of Jews in Aschaffenburger Straße and Sonnemannstraße and abused the residents.

Even earlier, the coexistence of Jews and Christians was fraught with tension. There was only more harmony towards the end of the 19th century, when Jewish citizens became involved in associations. In 1925, for example, the cattle dealer Abraham Bravmann and the preparatory teacher Dr Benno Hirnheimer were involved in the founding of the beautification association.

In 1951, the Evangelical Lutheran parish bought the synagogue and converted it into a Protestant place of worship. The bell tower, which still exists today, already adorned the synagogue.2, 3