Alte Synagoge Essen

The collection focuses on the lives of Jews in Essen during the 20th century. It contains audio interviews, short biographical accounts and more detailed biographies, correspondence, private photographs, diaries, school reports, poetry albums, and other material documenting a large variety of individual experiences. Contacts to former members of Essen’s Jewish community and their descendents continuously provide new material that is integrated in the collection.

Different kinds of documents on Essen Jewry such as secondary literature, newspaper articles and essays – are a further source of information. A special emphasis of our collection lies on the history of the synagogue itself. Building plans, drawings and other official documents relating to its construction, and numerous photographs illustrating the different phases of its eventful existence are on display.