Friday, September 24, 2010

Hamelin

A Very Special Day

Wolfhard F. Truchsess

Hamelin — “This beautiful weather for the roof-raising ceremony for our new synagogue—is a kiss of God.” Rachel Dohme, president of the liberal Jewish congregation of Hameln can hardly express her joy: “We are thrilled to see one more mosaic stone in our dream of our synagogue. You can see how it take shape before our very eyes.” They used to say: “There was once a synagogue here—now, there is, again, a synagogue.”

It’s been barely five months since the construction of the first liberal synagogue to be built after the war in Germany began. The construction crew worked diligently under the careful eye of the architects. “We are absolutely on schedule,” says the building’s architect, Peter Nasarek, whose office is in charge of the synagogue’s construction. Design architect was Frank Taylor. “We’re on schedule and the synagogue will be ready for occupancy before the end of the year.” The official dedication, which will be attended by the German minister of Education, is scheduled for February 20, 2011.

However, there was a reason the roof-raising ceremony was held after the celebration of the Jewish Feast of Booths, as Rachel Dohme confirms. By celebrating Sukkot, the Feast of Booths, Jews commemorate the forty-year-long wandering of the Israelites through the desert after having been freed from slavery in Egypt. The Sukkah represents life being a pilgrimage and something temporary, Rachel Dohme explained. For this reason, it is a good reminder to leave our houses’ security and become aware of “how much we are dependent on God’s protection.” The roof-raising ceremony, however, “celebrates the opposite: our new synagogue’s solid roof, where we will be able to share our religious, cultural and social Jewish life in Hamelin.

The list of dignitaries in attendance was long: members of the local city government, officials from state and national parliament and representatives of Hamelin’s churches, as well as the city’s Imam from the Ditib-Mosque. All came in honor of the day and in praise of the great accomplishment that the congregation has achieved with this building project. Senator Gabriele Lösekrug-Möller, who is also one of the founders of the foundation “Liberal Synagogue Hameln,” said that she “is filled with great joy on this day.” The synagogue’s re-erection testifies “that the wounds are beginning to heal.”

The speakers were visibly moved and noted the commonality regardless of religious borders. It is of special note that the project has become possible because of the good will and support from members of the local and international Jewish community as well as non-Jewish citizens and the generous contributions from a number of local businesses and companies.

Fifteen years ago, when the memorial at the Bürenstraße was established, no one could have imagined the rebuilding of the synagogue. “But now, here is my Jewish house,” vice president and Odessa-born Polina Pelts was pleased to say yesterday. “There, we never had a religious home. This is a dream come true today.”

Mayor Susanne Lippmann called it “a day of ineffable joy, a day with a very special meaning for our city.” The “bold building” in the heart of the city sets a signal of self-confidence and says loud and clear: “Our home here in Hamelin—now and in the future!”

© Dewezet, 9/24/2010