12. Old Synagogue

12. Old Synagogue

The origin of the Jewish community in Luxembourg goes back to the year 1276. Despite a number of pogroms, the community survived until 1530 when it was disbanded during the Habsburg reign of Charles V. It was only in the 18th century during the Enlightenment and the movement for greater religious tolerance that Jewish people were permitted to return to Luxembourg to found a new community.

The first synagogue was built in the ‘rue de la Congrégation’. It became too small as a result of the French-German war and the need to accommodate Jews fleeing the conflict. As a result, the community decided to build the so-called ‘Old Synagogue’. In 1894, it was built in an oriental style with a cupola and small towers.

After Hitler’s seizure of power in 1933, Luxembourg remained neutral and became a place of safety for German refugees. However, the Luxembourg community was not spared antisemitic attacks. In September 1938, Nazi followers scrawled National Socialist slogans and swastikas on the synagogue and broke the windows.

During the Nazi occupation, the synagogue fell victim to numerous serious attacks. For instance, in February 1941, unknown perpetrators tried to burn it down. In May of the same year, members of the National German Association attacked the Jewish worshippers during the service and plundered and devastated the place of worship. The German occupation forces decided to have the building torn down which proved to be difficult, taking in the end two years to complete the task.

Nowadays a commemorative plaque indicates the location of the Old Synagogue in the ‘rue Notre Dame’. At present, a large office building occupies the location which housed the Ministry of education for many years.

In 2018, an additional larger plaque was unveiled to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the November pogrom. It relates the story of the Jewish community with pictures of the Old Synagogue’s appearance. In the inner courtyard, there remains a part of the masonry of the niche for the Torah Shrine, a central element of every synagogue.

Since 1953, the Jewish community has had a synagogue with a meeting room and a Mikwe in the ‘Avenue Monterey’.

Interesting Detail
Two years before German troops marched into Luxembourg, the synagogue had already been attacked several times and the Jewish community terrorised. During the period of Nazi occupation, the building had to be protected by German ‘Wehrmacht’ soldiers to avoid greater violence.

Significance for Human Rights
The Old Synagogue and the history of the Jewish community in Luxembourg represent a tragic example of extreme fanaticism and life-threatening hate. The attacks on the synagogue during the Nazi occupation of Luxembourg were part of a plan for systematic exclusion and persecution of Jews. The demolition of the synagogue represented the destruction of a key symbol of Jewish culture and in this same way, the Jewish people were also to be destroyed.

The story of the Old Synagogue warns us that antisemitism, exclusion and hate towards people who are not part of the ‘mainstream’ sadly continue to exist. Remembering the Nazi atrocities is a milestone on the path to a society where every person is able to live freely its religion and culture.

Article 2
Everyone is equal regardless of race, colour, sex, language, religion, politics, or where they were born.

Article 12
Everyone has the right to privacy and freedom from attacks on their reputation.

Article 18
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.