The Ideas of Viki-Lu High School Students Are in Demand

Dewezet, September 20, 2003

Unusual challenge — drafts from pasteboard, stone and gypsum.

JGH president R. Dohme and congregant V. Pesok with art students and teacher, Mr. Hagaman, from the Viktoria Luise Gymnasium

The Jewish Congregation of Hameln plans to build the first Reform synagogue in post-war Germany.  High school students here want to lend their ideas.  Plans for an international architecture competition are in the wings.

But apart from that, the students from Viktoria-Luise-Gymnasium want their exhibit their very own entries.  An exhibit is planned in their own school at the year’s end.

“This work is quite an unusual challenge for 17 to 19 year olds”, remarked Holger Hagemann, art teacher.  The secondary school teacher found out about the plans to build the synagogue through a Dewezet article.  Since he is the art teacher, he suggested that students submit drafts.

The idea was first encountered with skepticism in the 12th and 13th grades, the students fearing it too large a task, according to Hagemann.  Nevertheless, the urge to act conquered all doubts. “We look forward to the work, because it will be a lot of fun for us”", 18-year-old Linda Grosskettler is convinced.

Daniel Petermeyer, the only male participant among 16 women in the course, also has a few ideas in his head.  “The synagogue should not be too elaborate, but rather be built in a simple style”, suggested the 18 year old.

Divided into six groups, the students will be guided by Hagemann, producing six drafts and models made of materials such as pasteboard, stone and gypsum.

Rachel Dohme is very excited about the presentation.  “Since the students had almost no limits placed on their creativity, they have been allowed to think out of the box”, said the president and co-founder of the Jewish Congregation of Hameln.  The Jewish Congregation of Hameln welcomes the fact that the young people have become so enthusiastic and interested in the synagogue project.

The commitment of the Viki Lu pupils is also a praiseworthy contribution for former school principal Werner Stapp, who belongs to the task force “A Synagogue for Hameln”.  He is pleased that this project will call attention to the rebuilding of the Hameln Synagogue.

Rachel Dohme explained important facts about synagogues and Judaism to the young men and women in order to give them a basis from which to begin their work.  The new, three-story synagogue on the Buerenstrasse is to be a vital community center with a sanctuary, museum, cafe, as well as a gift shop — all of which is to embody open, progressive Judaism.  “A Jewish Community Center which is open to all Hamelners”, comments Rachel Dohme.  She asked the students to remember to design their models so that the Aron hakodesh (Holy Ark) faces east (toward Jerusalem).