Görlitz (dpa/sn) - After more than eight decades, the synagogue in Görlitz will again be crowned with a Star of David. A newly manufactured religious symbol made of gray steel, weighing 600 kilograms, will be hoisted up with a crane on Monday (12:00 p.m.) and attached to the dome of the tower. The 5.20 meter high and 1.60 meter wide star was made by a local company, the original has been lost.
The city council had decided to rebuild the Star of David almost two years ago. Community members in particular donated to finance the project, which raised around 81,000 euros. The city wants to use part of the 100,000 euros from SED assets to structurally secure the Görlitz synagogue.
The building, attributed to reform architecture, was opened in 1911. It withstood the arson attack by the Nazis during the pogrom night of 1938, being the only community synagogue in what is now Saxony. Firefighters extinguished the flames and the Star of David was removed the day after.
After the war, the Art Nouveau building fell into disrepair and was forgotten until it was renovated with the help of the federal and state governments. Opened in July 2021 as the Kulturforum Görlitz Synagogue, it is also available for the practical exercise of faith. However, Görlitz has not had a Jewish community since the Second World War, and a new one is currently being set up.
