|
Synagogues:
The former Synagogue of the "Vereinigte alte und neue Klaus in Hamburg" was built by the architect Semmy Engel and dedicated on 28.09.1905. This synagogue succeeded the one in Peterstraße (former No. 17a Zweite Peterstraße) in the Neustadt district, opened by the society in 1853 and in use until 1919. The new synagogue became necessary due to the large influx of Jews into the Rotherbaum and Harvesterhude districts of Hamburg. The synagogue was, like its predecessor, situated in a courtyard at the rear of the buildings lining the street, and was reached via a passageway left of the former No. 11 Rutschbahn. The prayer hall of the synagogue formed a square. In the east was a small rectangular extension that housed the holy shrine. The section of the building west of the prayer hall contained the vestibule, the cloakroom, and a flight of stairs that led to the heavily grilled women's gallery. Women were not admitted to the synagogue in Peterstraße. The internal architecture was Jugendstil. The external architecture was in the classical style. The gallery contained 40 seats for women; the prayer hall contained 120 seats for men. The Lehrsaal (Lecture Room), circa 40 m² in size, was situated on the first floor. It was possible to enlarge this space by including the connecting gallery. An annexe with an additional Lehrsaal (Lecture Room), containing 60 places, was built in 1910, west of the synagogue.
In accordance with the society's founding statutes, the synagogue was to remain completely independent and its name was to be "Vereinigte alte und neue Klaus in der hiesigen Deutsch-Israelitischen Gemeinde". This name was not permitted to be changed. The statutes stipulated that the institution be named "Vereinigte alte und neue Klaus". The society was confirmed as a charitable society of the Jewish community by the Hamburg Senat (executive) on 12.01.1872.
The purpose of the society was: Two Klaus rabbis were to be employed, with a regular income, by the Vereinigte Klaus so as to promote 1). When financial or other circumstances prevented the employment of a second rabbi, he should be dispensed with. However, it was the duty of the administration to employ a second rabbi as soon as circumstances permitted. It was also possible to employ a third rabbi. Only those rabbis whose teaching and life were conducted in accordance with traditional orthodox Judaism could be employed as Klaus rabbis. The Klaus rabbis were to devote themselves to the study of the above named texts, generally in the Lehrsaal (study room) of the institute, and to hold public, instructive lectures there at suitable times. They were to regularly attend religious services in the Klaus synagogue, and to expound upon a section of the Bible in memory of deceased benefactors at the end of morning and evening prayers. All people of the Jewish religion could become Klaus members. Those living in violation of Jewish marriage laws or the law of circumcision, themselves or their sons, were excluded from membership or had their membership rescinded.
The administation of the Klaus consisted of a board and a committee of representatives. Only male members above the age of twenty-five living in "conviction and deed" according to traditional, orthodox Judaism could be elected to these two bodies. The board consisted of seven members with a seven year term of membership. Each year a board member retired and a new member was elected. The committee of representatives consisted of fifteen members with a five year term of membership. All male members above the age of eighteen could elect people to the committee. The role of the committee of representatives was to represent the interests of the membership and support the management of the board. All religious matters were to be definitively decided by the Klaus rabbis.
The following Klaus rabbis held office in the Klaus synagogue in Rutschbahn:
Rabbi Jaffe came from Russia. He studied and taught in the Rutschbahn synagogue from the
Ist World War onward. He was of average height and usually wore a long, black coat and round, black
hat. His clean cut features, framed by a grey-black beard, were dominated by his wise eyes. He
conducted himself with great humility. He was a wise man of the "old school" of rabbis, who served
without expectation of financial reward. His external appearance and upright and vigorous gait were
visible expression of an uncompromising, orthodox Jew. His knowledge of the Talmud was exceptional.
Dr. Selig Pinchas Bamberger held his position with the Vereinigte Klaus from 1901 to his death in 1936. He was widely known through his translations of the Raschi Commentaries of the Bible and Talmud, (Salomon ben Isaak (1040-1105), Worms), of the Pentateuch (Torah=5 books of Moses), and the Kizzur Schulchan Aruch (Jewish law and ritual). "... His lectures were unforgettable for me and other students who had the privilege of studying with him. He was no orator, rather a profound scholar who knew how to imprint his students with the love and worship of the words of the Bible, the fear of God, and all from a deeply ethical standpoint. He was a man with particular humane and moral qualities, strict with himself and others when it concerned obeying God's word, but always full of limitless love for all that bore God's countenance. These two poles were united to form a harmonious character."
The former Klaus synagogue belonged to No. 11 Rutschbahn, and was situated in the rear. No. 11 Rutschbahn was a three-storey residential building and belonged to the "Vereinigte alte und neue Klaus" society from 1904. The Jewish bookshop B. Lambig was situated on the groundfloor from 1930, and on the upper groundfloor from 1938.
In the 1930s, the board of the "Vereinigte alte und neue Klaus" society comprised, among others,
the following men: From 1941 onward various private individuals are identified as being the owners of No. 11 and No. 11 a Rutschbahn.
The Hamburger Tagesblatt newspaper reported the following in connection with the Pogrom Night of
9/10 November 1938:
In 1942 the "Vereinigte alte und neue Klaus" society, including the cemetery in Langenfelde, was incorporated into the "Reichsvereinigung der Juden in Deutschland" ("Reich Organization of Jews in Germany"). This organization was founded in accordance with the "10. Verordnung zum Reichsbürgergesetz" ("10. regulation of the Reich Citizenship Act") of 4.07.1939. All "Jews" (as defined by the Nuremberg decrees) living in the Reich became compulsory members. The "Reichsvereinigung der Juden in Deutschland" was a registered society with its office in Berlin. The local branches of the "Reichsvereinigung der Juden in Deutschland" replaced the local Jewish religious associations. The organizations had the goal of promoting the forced emigration. It was also responsible for Jewish education and social welfare. The "Reichsvereinigung der Juden in Deutschland" was subordinate to the Reichsinnenminister (Reich Home Secretary). He had the power to disband Jewish societies, organizations and charitable foundations, or to order their incorporation within the "Reichsvereinigung der Juden in Deutschland".
The former synagogue building, No. 11 a Rutschbahn, and annexe, Nos. 9-11 Rutschbahn, exist today.
Both are in commercial use. A memorial plaque has been erected on the former synagogue building.
German text: Dipl.-Pol. Wilhelm Mosel, Deutsch-Jüdische Gesellschaft, Hamburg.
|