Selm-Bork Synagogue

Selm-Bork Synagogue
Selm-Bork Synagogue
	The Selm-Bork synagogue, now used by a Liberal congregation
Religion
Affiliation	Reform Judaism
Rite	Nusach Ashkenaz (c. 1818–1938)
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Synagogue (c. 1818–1938); Barn (c. 1938–1991); Synagogue (since 1994);
Status	Active
Location
Location	Hauptstraße 10, Westphalia, Unna, North Rhine-Westphalia
Country	Germany
	Location of the synagogue in North Rhine-Westphalia
Geographic coordinates	51°39′55″N 7°28′02″E / 51.6653°N 7.4672°E
Architecture
Completed	c. 1818
Materials	Timber (partial)

The Selm-Bork Synagogue is a Liberal Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at Hauptstraße 10, in Westphalia, in the Unna district, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The synagogue is one of two remaining rural synagogues in the region and a witness of pre-Holocaust Jewish life in Westphalia.

Historically, the congregation worshiped in the Ashkenazi rite. Since 2000, the congregation has embraced Liberal Judaism.^[1]

History

The exact year of construction is unknown, the first written reference was found in a directory of houses, written in 1818.^[2] Until Kristallnacht of 1938, the synagogue was used for prayer. During the pogrom the building was looted and partially destroyed. The Jewish community was forced to sell the building. A coal dealer acquired the building and used it as a barn.

In 1991 the synagogue was restored and opened for the public in 1994, the government declared the synagogue a historic monument.^[3] since 1994 it has served as the place of worship for Etz Ami, a liberal Jewish community.

References

^ ^a ^b "Synagogue in Selm-Bork". Historic Synagogues of Europe. Foundation for Jewish Heritage and the Center for Jewish Art at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. n.d. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
^ Pracht-Jörns, Elfi (2002). Jüdisches Kulturerbe in Nordrhein-Westfalen. Band V: Regierungsbezirk Arnsberg (in German). Cologne: J. P. Bachem Verlag.
^ "LWL · Jüdisches Leben in Europa jenseits der Metropolen · die Landsynagoge in Selm-Bork: Jüdische Geschichte im Spiegel einer Synagoge" (in German). Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2009.