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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Benfeld Synagogue, located on rue de la Dîme in the Lower Rhine, is a religious building built in 1846 and expanded in 1875-1876 by the addition of low-sides. It stands out as one of the first synagogues of Alsace to integrate an organ, installed in 1895, marking an evolution in local liturgical practices. Its interior decoration, inspired by Florence's synagogue, was created in 1922 by artist Achille Metzger, with frescoes in the Oriental style.

Classified as a historical monument since 1984 (inscription extended in 2015), the synagogue also includes its furniture in this protection. Originally, his enclosure housed a Jewish school, later replaced by the guardian's house. The building illustrates the history of the Alsatian Jewish community, while reflecting the artistic and architectural influences of its time.

The organ, Metzel, and Metzger's frescoes bear witness to a desire to combine tradition and modernity. The synagogue remains today a symbol of the Jewish heritage in Alsace, managed by an association. Its exact address, 9 rue de la Dîme, and its Insee code (67028) confirm its anchoring in the town of Benfeld, in the heart of the East.

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