The converted villa at No. 37 Innocentiastraße, in Harvestehude, was consecrated as
Esnoga der Portugiesisch-Jüdischen Gemeinde" "Bet Jisrael" zu Hamburg (Synagogue of the
Hamburg Portuguese-Jewish Community), at 8 p.m. on Thursday, 14th March 1935.
Chief Rabbi Dr. Pereira was invited from Den Haag, in the Netherlands, to give the celebratory
sermon in which he said: "Wenn man uns gestatted, in Judentum zu bleiben, so wollen wir uns beugen,
aber wenn man uns von Judentum entfernen will, verweigen wir, nachzugeben" ("When others allow us to
remain in Judaism we will submit, but when others will have us leave Judaism, we will refuse").
In the second half of the 16th century their ancestors had been allowed to settle in Hamburg, but
without being permitted to profess their Jewish faith. They were Marranos, Spanish and Portuguese
Jews who had converted to Christianity, or who were forcibly converted but secretely adhered to
Judaism. These Sephardi Jews had been driven out of Spain and Portugal by the Spanish Inquisition.
They arrived in Hamburg via the Netherlands. It was not until the beginning of the 17th century that
they again dared to profess their adherence to Judaism and in 1648 the Portugiesisch-Jüdischen Gemeinde
(Portuguese-Jewish Community) was founded in Hamburg. In 1935, the president of the Portuguese-Jewish
Community, Frank B. Luria, proudly represented the 287 year old, and oldest Jewish community
in Germany. The community consisted of 170 members. It existed as an independent Jewish community,
alongside the Ashkenazi, Deutsch-Israelitischen Gemeinde (German Israelite Community), until 1940.
This was the last consecration of a synagogue in Hamburg during the Nazi period. It could
accommodate 90 men and 40 women. It retained its 1652
name Bet Israel to the end. Over the house entrance was the inscription in Hebraic: "Heilige
Gemeinde der Sefardim Bet Israel - Nahe ist Gott allen, die ihn rufen." ("Sacred Community of the
Sephardim Bet Israel - Near is God to all who call him").
On 21st March 1935, the Hamburger Familienblatt newspaper gave a description of the inside of
the synagogue:
"In accordance with the Portuguese tradition the internal decoration of the synagogue reflects the
colourful ornament of the Portuguese ritual. The visitor experiences an exceptionally colourful and
decorative wall decoration. The predominant colour of the torah ark is orange. The blue columns,
the use of glass, the lighter gold moulding, and ornamental forms produce a pleasurable harmony.
The subdued ceiling and walls are intensified by the well installed lighting. Several rooms have
been skilfully united in a common architectural style." The numerous guests were surprised and
fascinated by the characteristic singing of the ancient Marrano service.
As early as the 4th April 1935 the NSDAP sought to have the inscription over the entrance, and the Star of David on the corner turret, removed, on the grounds that they were an "mit Recht zur Verärgerung der arischen Bevölkerung dieses Stadtteils beitragen" ("understandable annoyance to the Aryan citizens of the district"). On the 22nd May 1935, the police authorities, to whom the complaint was addressed, informed the NSDAP that no legal means existed for such an action.
In May 1938, at the 2. Konferenz des Weltbundes der sefardischen Gemeinden (2nd Conference of the World Federation of Sephardi Communities), the board of the Portuguese community made an unusual proposal, namely: " ... wenn möglich die Mitglieder der Portugiesisch-Jüdischen Gemeide Hamburgs in ihrere Gesamtheit zur Auswanderung zu bringen und in einer geeigneten kolonie wieder anzusiedeln." (" ... if possible to organize the emigration of the entire Hamburg Portuguese Jewish Community, and to resettle them in a suitable colony."). This plan was supported in an appeal in the community paper of 17.06.1938. It was planned to found a community settlement of around 50 Sephardi and Ashkenazi families in either an English or a Dutch colony. The plan could not be realized as the numerous Sephardi names on the Nazi deportation transport lists verify.
Today, the re-converted villa at No. 37 Innocentiastraße has reverted to private ownership.