Glueckstadt Jewish cemetery
The Jewish cemetery in Glückstadt is on Pentzstrasse. The site has an area of 1531 m². About 100 tombstones have been preserved , many from the 17th and 18th centuries.
history
Three years after Glückstadt was founded in 1616, the Danish King Christian IV invited Sephardic Jews who had emigrated from Portugal to trade in the city. The Sephardi were needed all over Europe because of their good trade relations. They were guaranteed free religious practice and in 1622 they were given their own cemetery . The Sephardi left the city again when it became clear that Glückstadt's rise to Hamburg's competitor did not go as planned.
From 1861 onwards only Ashkenazi Jews were buried here.
From 1895 the cemetery area was reduced to a quarter. In the course of this measure, the gravestones were set up according to their size.
In 1914, Sammy Levy was the last to be buried here. His widow bequeathed the entire property to the community and handed over historical documents to the city archive. In return, the city undertook to maintain the Jewish cemetery.
In 1941 - during the Nazi era - the stones were removed and the area was leveled.
After 1945 the cemetery was largely restored.
Graves
Most of the graves (around 90) are Sephardic, they are covered by grave slabs made of sandstone . There are also 11 upright steles . The Sephardic stones mostly have Hebrew, but also Latin characters. The following symbols are shown: hourglasses, skull over crossed bones, blessing priest hands , boots, Levite jug and bowl, drawn bow, hand with sword, hand with scales.
literature
- Harald Kirschninck: The history of the Jews in Elmshorn. Volume 2: 1918-1945. Books on Demand, Norderstedt 2005, ISBN 3-8334-2590-3 .
- Art topography Schleswig-Holstein. Processed in the State Office for Monument Preservation Schleswig-Holstein and in the Office for Monument Preservation of the Hanseatic City of Lübeck. Wachholtz, Neumünster 1982, ISBN 3-529-02627-1 .
Web links
Coordinates: 53 ° 47 ′ 15.8 " N , 9 ° 25 ′ 52.5" E