New Synagogue: Congregation Invites
Architects to Take Part in a Competition

Thomas Wuensche
Dewezet, June 20, 2003

Planned costs 1.5 million Euros/ Begin in late summer/ Fundraising
campaign kick-off at Hameln's 2nd annual Cultural Festival

The Hameln Synagogue, which was destroyed by the Nazis on November 9, 1938 in the Buerenstrasse, was built in the Rhein-Romantic style by Edwin Oppler in 1879.

HAMELN (tw) — Hameln's architects will have the opportunity to show their talents nationwide.  The Jewish Congregation of Hameln (JGH) has announced that they will host a national architect competition to design their new synagogue.  Local architects are being asked to take part.

The new synagogue will be the first newly constructed Reform synagogue in post-war Germany.  “Drees and Huesmann from Bielefeld will administer the competition.  We hope to begin the competition in late autumn”, said congregational president Rachel Dohme. The well-known firm of Drees and Heusmann also administered architect competitions for the Hameln train station and fire station.  “The total cost will fall between 1.2 and 1.5 million Euros, minus the 60,000 to 70,000 for the competition”, added Hans-Georg Spangenberger.  The spokesman for the six-member initiative called “A Synagogue for Hameln” hopes that the building can begin in 2004.

JGH has found a transitional home in the Bahnhofstrasse and hopes through the competition to find the best design for their building, national press attention for their plans, and as a result, new sponsors.  Although the congregation has a building fund and hopes for grant monies, the majority of the necessary funds will have to come from contributions.  “We're thankful for any and all contributions”, said Rachel Dohme.  “We trust that the citizens of Hameln realize the meaning of the city having a synagogue again.  The building will not only have a sanctuary but be a Jewish community center open to everyone!”

Former mayor, member of the initiative, and president of the Society for Christians and Jews Mrs. Christa Bruns explained, “At the beginning of the 20th century there were over 2800 synagogues and prayer rooms in Germany.  Many Jewish congregations wanted to show their Christian neighbors that they were German Jews.”  This was evidenced in the synagogue architecture of the day.  The Jewish architect Edwin Oppler built monumental synagogues in Hameln, Hannover, Munich and Breslau in the Rhein-Romantic style of the 12th century “German” style.

Oppler’s edifice in Hameln's Buerenstrasse was destroyed by the Nazis in the Pogrom night of November 9, 1938.  The Jewish Congregation of Hameln, established in 1997 by Rachel Dohme and 17 Jewish men and women from the FSU bought the land back from the city in the year 2001.

On Saturday, June 28, the Jewish Congregation will take part in the city's second annual Cultural Festival.  Vice Superintendent of the Luthern Churches of Hameln Pastor Kuehne-Glaesser, Pastor Martin Hoffmann, and Father Otto Pischel will join Mrs. Dohme and congregants in their first public fundraising campaign.  Direct, tax-deductable contributions can be made to Dresdner Bank Hameln, Bank code # 254 800 21, account # 4434032202.