proud of my Berlin synagogue - it survived the Shoah and is now thriving again

When living in Berlin, Fraenkelufer was my community. I miss it much!

The synagogue was build in Kottbusser Ufer, now Fraenkelufer, from 1913-1916 in a neo-classical style designed by Jewish architect Alexander Beer. He was murdered in Theresienstadt in 1944. It was one of the largest Orthodox synagogues in Berlin with 2000 seats before most was destroyed during the November Pogrom 1938. The main building actually survived as a ruin and was completely dismanteled in 1958/9. Only the side-wing survived, which functioned as the youth synagogue and for weekdays. Even the parochets (curtain) for the aron kodesh survived in the loft, where they were rediscovered some time ago.

Immediately after the war, the youth synagogue was used again by survivors. After renovations, it was officially re-consecrated on April 22, 1959, and has since served as a synagogue for the Berlin Jewish unity community.  Today it follows conservative rite, tending towards the orthodox.

AMAZING 2019 update: This gives such hope: A Synagogue Renovation in Berlin, and the Palestinian Making It Happen - Haarez

The community has grown so much that a new building will be built to replace the the large and luxurious synagogue that once stood at the same site, with room for 2,000 worshippers. That building was set on fire by the Nazis and destroyed during the November Pogrom 1938. "With the help of the chairman off Berlin’s Social Democratic Party, Raed Saleh, a new building will be built as a cultural center for the Jewish community in Berlin. Saleh, a German of Palestinian origin, heads the trustees spearheading the building’s renovations." (Haarez)

I am so proud of the community that I could cry!