135 years of the Jewish community in Chemnitz and 75 years of its re-founding
* Entry in the Golden Book of the City of Chemnitz: Monday, 7 September, 2 p.m., City Hall, City Council Chamber * Ceremony: Monday, 7 September, 3.30 pm, Georgius-Agricola-Gymnasium, assembly hall
On Monday, 7 September at 2 p.m., the President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Dr Josef Schuster, and the Chairwoman of the Jewish Community of Chemnitz, Dr Ruth Röcher, will be honoured with an entry in the Golden Book of the City of Chemnitz. The entry will be made in the City Council Chamber of Chemnitz City Hall.
Dr Josef Schuster and Dr Ruth Röcher will be honoured for their services to Jewish life in Germany and Chemnitz.
Afterwards, from 3.30 pm, the ceremony to mark the 135th anniversary of the founding of the Jewish community in Chemnitz and the 75th anniversary of its re-founding will take place in the auditorium of the Georgius Agricola Gymnasium with invited guests.
Representatives of the media are cordially invited to both events.
We ask for accreditation by Friday, 4 September, 2 pm. (Please use the form in the attachment.)
Programme for the ceremony
Opening ceremony
Barbara Ludwig, Lord Mayor
Greeting
Dr Ruth Röcher, Chairwoman of the Jewish Community of Chemnitz
Keynote speech
Dr Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany
Speech by
Oliver Schenk, Head of the Saxon State Chancellery, Minister of State for Federal Affairs and Media
Theatre play
Young representatives of the Jewish community
Closing speech
Michael Leon Khurgin, young representative of the Jewish community
History
The Jewish community was officially founded as a public corporation on 19 November 1885, ten years after the Israelite Women's Association had been founded in Chemnitz in 1875. In 1899, the community had 1000 members. On 7 March of the same year, the synagogue on Stephanplatz on Kaßberg was consecrated. 24 years later, in 1923, the community had 3,500 members.
The synagogue on Stephanplatz was destroyed during the pogrom night of 9 to 10 November 1938. From 1940 to 1941, the remaining Jewish inhabitants of Chemnitz lived in Jewish houses. They were deported to the extermination camps in 1942.
After the end of the Second World War and the destruction of National Socialism, the Jewish community was revived in September 1945 with 57 returning members. The re-establishment took place in the building of today's Georgius Agricola Grammar School.
On 5 March 1947, the community was officially recognised again as a public corporation.
On 22 October 1961, the parish hall at Stollberger Straße 28 was inaugurated. 41 years later, on 24 May 2002, the new synagogue and community centre at Stollberger Straße 28 was inaugurated.
Dr Ruth Röcher has been the chairwoman of the Jewish community since 2006.
From 1966 to 2006, Siegmund Rotstein, an honorary citizen of the city of Chemnitz, was chairman of the community. He died on 6 August 2020.