Jewish cemetery (Gymnich)

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Gymnich Jewish cemetery

The Gymnich Jewish cemetery is one of the Jewish cemeteries in Erftstadt in the Rhein-Erft district . It is located in what is now the Gymnich district and has a total area of ​​around 1532 m 2 . Like all Jewish cemeteries in the urban area of ​​the city of Erftstadt, the cemetery is owned by the Cologne Synagogue Community , and the city of Erftstadt is responsible for maintaining the cemeteries.

The cemetery was probably laid out around 1845, the oldest tombstone ( Mazewa ) was probably erected around 1846. With 27 gravestones preserved, it is one of the largest Jewish grave sites in Erftstadt , along with the new Jewish cemetery in Lechenich with 31 gravestones. The names of those buried can still be read on 19 gravestones.

Location and description

Entrance to the Jewish cemetery

The Jewish cemetery is located near the north-western outskirts of Gymnich and the main road L 162 (Kerpener Landstrasse). The elongated and very narrow cemetery, around 13 m wide and 120 m long, extends in an east-west direction, its total area is around 1532 m 2 . The entrance area is located on the east side of an unnamed farm road and consists of an approximately two meter high brick wall with a two-winged wrought iron gate, on both sides of the gate the wall has two raised corner pillars. Behind the wall there is a sycamore maple on both sides , followed by a demarcated area with a wooden bench and a memorial stone.

In the cemetery there are 26 partially restored tombstones, the names of 19 of them are legible; the tombstone listed by Weber as the 27th is broken off next to the base. The fronts of all stones face east, the backs are not labeled. The graves are not bordered and there are no paths, the cemetery is completely covered with lawn and surrounded by a hawthorn hedge . It consists of three fields, of which only the middle and largest contains gravestones.

history

Memorial stone in the Jewish cemetery

As early as 1676 there was a Jewish community ( Kehillah ) and a “Judenkirchhof” in Gymnich, which is mentioned in the will of a Gymnich couple. The cemetery was next to the couple's lands. A Jewish cemetery in Gymnich was also mentioned in 1776 in a lease agreement for the land of the seminary in Gymnich between the president of the seminary in Cologne and a tenant couple from Gymnich.

It is not known when the current cemetery was established. Presumably it was acquired and laid out by the Jewish community around 1845, the oldest tombstone was probably erected in 1846 (according to the Jewish calendar in the year 5606) and described in Hebrew script . Weber, however, dated the construction to around 1860, the oldest gravestone with legible writing according to his inventory was erected in 1861. After 1870, the cemetery was also intended for the believers from Dirmerzheim who belonged to the Gymnich community , whose deceased had been buried in the Dirmerzheim Jewish cemetery , the smallest in the Erftkreis.

On March 1, 1900, the Gymnich municipal council decided "at the request of the head of the Israelite community in Gymnich" to grant "a grant of 50 marks [..] from the community treasury" to enclose the Jewish cemetery. The Jewish community was affiliated with the Lechenich synagogue community .

It is not known whether the Gymnich cemetery was desecrated during or after the November pogroms in 1938 . No more stones could be set for Karoline Krämer, who died on December 10, 1938, and Henriette Baum, who died on February 12, 1942. About two thirds of the original stones were lost, after the Second World War the remaining tombstones were overturned and many inscription tablets are still missing today. In 1947 the municipalities of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia were obliged to restore the Jewish cemeteries in their area "to the condition in which they were before 1938." This primarily includes restoring and setting up the tombstones. The local council in Gymnich decided on January 24th, 1949 to comply with “the application of the Cologne synagogue community for the maintenance of the Jewish cemetery”. As a result, a local resident was entrusted with the care of the hedge and the lawn and two masons with the restoration of the entrance wall. In 1953, the mayor Heinrich Schmitz was asked by the caretaker Josef Leiser to put the tombstones back up, but the funds were lacking. On May 4, 1956, Josef Levy, whose parents were buried in the cemetery, also asked the administration to put the tombstones back up. In the council meeting it was assumed that it would be difficult to bring the stones to their old location due to the lack of occupancy plans, and it was also asked whether the 30-year rest period that applies to the community of Gymnich would also apply to the Jewish cemetery is. In the 1958 financial year there was an initial grant from the city of DM 340.75 . In a further meeting on October 12, 1959, the city council determined that the cemetery had to be repaired by order of the government, the cost of which was set at DM 3,050.75. On July 5, 1960, it was finally confirmed that “the Jewish cemetery had been properly repaired” and that further maintenance was transferred according to an offer.

In 1988 the city of Erftstadt had a memorial stone erected on the Jewish cemetery in Gymnich with the consent of the Cologne synagogue community for the Jews of Gymnich who were murdered by the National Socialists. The inscription reads:

"In memory of the German citizens of the Jewish faith who were deported from Gymnich by National Socialist tyranny in 1942 and murdered in the east"

On December 31, 1991, the Gymnich Jewish cemetery was added to the Erftstadt monuments list as an architectural monument.

Tombstones

The following table shows the 26 tombstones still in the cemetery. The description and numbering follow the illustration by Weber 1984, another illustration can be found in Peters 1993.

No. person inscription Dimensions material particularities Illustration
1 unknown [Inscription plate missing] 133/35 cm Terrazzo Round head JF Gymnich Stein 01.JPG
2 Moses Krämer (1847–1931) [Hebrew inscription]

OUR / DEAR BROTHER AND UNCLE / MOSES KRÄMER / GIV. December 10th, 1847 / GEST. April 12, 1931

136/50 cm Porphyry (greenish) Segment arch ; Inscription in Hebrew and German; Star of David JF Gymnich Stein 02.JPG
3 unknown [Inscription plate missing] 143.5 / 54 cm Terrazzo Round head JF Gymnich Stein 03.JPG
4th unknown [Inscription plate missing] 143/54 cm Terrazzo Round head JF Gymnich Stein 04.JPG
5 Mrs. Michael Levi, b. Heidt (1860-1906) [Hebrew inscription]

Here rests / our good mother / Mrs. Michael Levi / geb. Heidt / b. February 8, 1860 / d. June 6, 1906

107.5 / 39.5 cm Belgian granite Round head with ears; Inscription in Hebrew and German; Star of David JF Gymnich Stein 05.JPG
6th Mrs. Michael Levy, Henriette geb. Daniel (1873-1924) [Hebrew inscription]
Here rests / our dear wife / and mother / Mrs. Michael Levy / Henriette geb. Daniel / b. on March 22, 1873 / d. on February 6, 1924 / rest in peace! 		116/39 cm Belgian granite Round head with ears JF Gymnich Stein 06.JPG
7th Isidore Levi (1900-1919) [Hebrew inscription]
Here rests / our dear son / and brother / Isidor Levy / née. 19 Aug. 1900 / d. Jan. 28, 1919 / Peace to his ashes 		135.5 / 50 cm Terrazzo Curved head with lateral volutes and raised bar, below volutes fluted laterally JF Gymnich Stein 07.JPG
8th Michael Levy (1864-1924) [Hebrew inscription]
Here rests in peace / our dear father / Michael Levy / geb. Jan. 3, 1864 / d. July 12, 1926 		133/35 cm Shell limestone Round head with ears JF Gymnich Stein 08.JPG
9 Lina Krämer, b. Cremer (1863-1918) [Hebrew inscription]
Here rests / my dear wife / and aunt / Lina Krämer geb. Cremer / born July 20, 1863 / d. September 18, 1918 / rest in peace 		125.5 / 50 cm Shell limestone Segment head, laterally stepped JF Gymnich Stein 09.JPG
10 Jakob Levi (1891-1915) [Hebrew inscription]
Here rests / our good son / u. Brother / Jakob Levi / born Nov. 25, 1891 / d. Feb 12, 1915 		114/40 cm Belgian granite Round head with ears JF Gymnich Stein 10.JPG
11 Marianne Emmel, b. ... REST HERE / MY LOVE / Foster mother / MARIANNE / EMMEL / GEB ... / REST IN PEACE 16.5 / 50 cm Terrazzo Triangular head with ornamented rim JF Gymnich Stein 11.JPG
12 Helene Krämer (1854–1918) [Hebrew inscription]
Here / our dear sister / and aunt / Miss rests. Helene Krämer / b. 7/10/1854 - died 4.3. 1918 / rest in peace 		122.5 / 49.5 cm Shell limestone Segment head bevelled laterally JF Gymnich Stein 12.JPG
13 Johanna Berg (1845–1908) [Hebrew inscription]
Here rests / our dear sister / Fräulein / Johanna Berg / geb. January 19, 1845 / d. Septemb. 8 1908 		133/56 cm Belgian granite Round head with ears JF Gymnich Stein 13.JPG
14th Sophie Stock, b. Rosenzweig (1839-1910) [Hebrew inscription]
RESTING HERE / OUR LOVED MOTHER / AND GRANDMOTHER / SOPHIE STOCK / GEB. ROSENZWEIG / GEB. MAY 9, 1839 / GEST. 23 SEPTBR. 1910 		130/74 cm Belgian granite Rustika with a raised inscription plaque JF Gymnich Stein 14.JPG
15th Friederike Heimann, b. Baum (1795–1861) and Regina Heimann (1830–1904) Here rest / our dear grandmother / Friedrike Heimann, geb. Tree / born 1795 - d. 1861
---
Our dear aunt / Regina Heimann / b. 1830 - d. 1904
[Hebrew inscription] 		128/49 cm Diabase Segment head JF Gymnich Stein 15.JPG
16 Sofie Daniel, b. Steinberg (1847-1922) Here rests / us. dear mother / Sofie Daniel / born Steinberg / b. 1847 / d. 1922
---
[Hebrew inscription] 		108/43 cm Diabase Segment head, sides rustica JF Gymnich Stein 16.JPG
17th Abraham Stock (1832-1908) [Hebrew inscription]
REST HERE / MY DEAR Husband / OUR GOOD / FATHER AND / GRANDFATHER / ABRAHAM STOCK / GIV. 4 NOVBR. 1832 / GEST. APRIL 15, 1908 		154/75 cm Belgian granite Rustika with a raised inscription plaque JF Gymnich Stein 17.JPG
18th Israel Heidt (1822-1896) Here rests / Israel Heidt / geb. March 31, 1822 / d. on 1st / New Years 56-57 / 8th Sept. 1896 52/48 cm Red sandstone with a white marble top Plate in a transversely rectangular raised frame, side throats, top edge profiled JF Gymnich Stein 18.JPG
19th unknown Inscription plate is missing 65/50 cm Red sandstone Plate in a transversely rectangular raised frame, side throats, top edge profiled JF Gymnich Stein 19.JPG
20th Gottschalk Rosenzweig (1806–1890) [Hebrew inscription]
Gottschalk Rosenzweig / b. 1806 / d. 10 October 1890 		111/60 cm Yellow sandstone Round head, stepped on the sides; Chamfered edges JF Gymnich Stein 20.JPG
21st Helena Heidt (1853 or 1854 (?) - 1885) [Hebrew inscription]
Here rest / Helena Heidt / d. January 8, 1885/31 years old 		127/46 cm Cement casting Round head with ears JF Gymnich Stein 21.JPG
22nd Meyer Berg (1806-1880) [left] Here rest / [right] our dear parents

[left] Meyer Berg / b. to Brüggen 1806 / d. to Dirmerzheim / October 15th 1880 [right] Eva Berg / b. Levano / b. to Gymnich 1806 / d. to Dirmerzheim / May 9, 1886
[left] [Hebrew inscription] / [right] [Hebrew inscription]
[left] Rest / [right] in peace

 105/91 cm Yellow sandstone Double grave, round heads with rim JF Gymnich Stein 22 23.JPG
23 Eva Berg, b. Levano (1806-1886)
24 unknown (1802–1873) [Hebrew inscription]
[German inscription illegible except for dates of life:] geb. April 19, 1802 / d. September 10, 1873 		98/56 cm Yellow sandstone Triangular head with a fluted edge JF Gymnich Stein 24.JPG
25th unknown [Inscription plate destroyed except for a fragment] 133/35 cm Yellow sandstone , marble slab JF Gymnich Stein 25.JPG
26th unknown [Hebrew inscription] 116/62 cm Belgian granite JF Gymnich Stein 26.JPG
27 unknown [Weathered inscription, illegible] 62/46 cm Cement casting Segment head, cracked and broken off JF Gymnich Stein 27.JPG

supporting documents

  1. ↑ a b c d e The cemetery on Kerpener Strasse. In: Elfi Pracht : Jewish cultural heritage in North Rhine-Westphalia. Part I: Cologne district (= contributions to architectural and art monuments in the Rhineland. Volume 34.1). JP Bachem, Cologne 1997, ISBN 3-7616-1322-9 , p. 188.
  2. ↑ a b c d Heidi Bormann, Cornelius Bormann : Heimat an der Erft. The rural Jews in the synagogue communities Gymnich, Friesheim and Lechenich. Erftstadt 1993, ISBN 3-9802650-3-X , p. 369.
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g h Matthias Weber : Erftstadt-Gymnich. Homeland book. JP Bachem, Cologne 1984, ISBN 3-7616-0757-1 , pp. 194-198.
  4. ↑ Based on the author's own assessment, Achim Raschka, on October 19, 2009 and on subsequent visits.
  5. ^ Historical Archive of the Archdiocese of Cologne (HAEK) Deanery Bergheim Gymnich 2; quoted from: Karl Stommel, Hanna Stommel: Sources on the history of the city of Erftstadt. Volume 5, Cultural Office of the City of Erftstadt, Erftstadt 1998, No. 2680.
  6. ^ Historical archive of the Archdiocese of Cologne (HAEK) inventory of the seminary, based on: Karl Stommel, Hanna Stommel: Sources on the history of the city of Erftstadt. Volume 5, Cultural Office of the City of Erftstadt, Erftstadt 1998, No. 2960.
  7. ^ Gymnich council minutes. Volume III, pp. 131 f .; quoted from: Matthias Weber: Erftstadt-Gymnich. Homeland book. JP Bachem, Cologne 1984, ISBN 3-7616-0757-1 , p. 194.
  8. ^ Gymnich council minutes. Volume X, pp. 72 f .; quoted from: Matthias Weber: Erftstadt-Gymnich. Homeland book. JP Bachem, Cologne 1984, ISBN 3-7616-0757-1 , p. 195.
  9. ^ Gymnich council minutes. Volume IX, p. 10; quoted from: Matthias Weber: Erftstadt-Gymnich. Homeland book. JP Bachem, Cologne 1984, ISBN 3-7616-0757-1 , p. 195.
  10. ^ Gymnich council minutes. Volume X, p. 214; after: Matthias Weber: Erftstadt-Gymnich. Homeland book. JP Bachem, Cologne 1984, ISBN 3-7616-0757-1 , p. 195.
  11. ^ Gymnich council minutes. Volume XI, p. 202; after: Matthias Weber: Erftstadt-Gymnich. Homeland book. JP Bachem, Cologne 1984, ISBN 3-7616-0757-1 , p. 196.
  12. ^ Gymnich council minutes. Volume XI, p. 244; quoted from: Matthias Weber: Erftstadt-Gymnich. Homeland book. JP Bachem, Cologne 1984, ISBN 3-7616-0757-1 , p. 196.
  13. ↑ Heidi Bormann, Cornelius Bormann: Home on the Erft. The rural Jews in the synagogue communities Gymnich, Friesheim and Lechenich. Erftstadt 1993, ISBN 3-9802650-3-X , p. 371.
  14. ↑ List of monuments of the city of Erftstadt, transmitted by the Lower Monument Authority Erftstadt.
  15. ↑ Dieter Peters: Jewish cemeteries between the Rhine and Maas, grave inscriptions. Genealogical data from Jewish cemeteries in the former Rhine province and in the Dutch province of Limburg. MOSAIK Familienkundliche Vereinigung für das Klever Land eV, Kleve 1993, pp. 168–169.
  16. ^ Material determined by Friedrich Lindenthal, restorer from the Rheinisches Amt für Denkmalpflege; reproduced from: Matthias Weber: Erftstadt-Gymnich. Homeland book. JP Bachem, Cologne 1984, ISBN 3-7616-0757-1 .

literature

  • Heidi Bormann, Cornelius Bormann : Home on the Erft. The rural Jews in the synagogue communities Gymnich, Friesheim and Lechenich. Erftstadt 1993, ISBN 3-9802650-3-X .
  • Matthias Weber : Erftstadt-Gymnich. Homeland book. JP Bachem, Cologne 1984, ISBN 3-7616-0757-1 , pp. 194-198.
  • The cemetery on Kerpener Strasse. In: Elfi Pracht : Jewish cultural heritage in North Rhine-Westphalia. Part I: Cologne district (= contributions to architectural and art monuments in the Rhineland. Volume 34.1). JP Bachem, Cologne 1997, ISBN 3-7616-1322-9 , p. 188.

Web links

Commons : Jüdischer Friedhof Gymnich  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 50 ° 50 ′ 26.8 "  N , 6 ° 43 ′ 59.3"  E

This article was added to the list of articles worth reading on May 6, 2018 in this version .