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All French heritage classified by regions, departments and cities

  2. Patrimoine
  3. Normandie
  4. Seine-Maritime
  5. 76500 Elbeuf

  6. Elbeuf Synagogue

 Elbeuf Synagogue en Seine-Maritime

Patrimoine classé
Patrimoine Juif
Synagogue
Seine-Maritime

Elbeuf Synagogue

    29 Rue Grémont
    76500 Elbeuf
Synagogue dElbeuf
Synagogue dElbeuf
Crédit photo : Kyomori - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1900
2000
1871
Installation of Alsatian Jews
1909
Construction of the synagogue
1942
Painted yellow stars
25 mai 2009
Historical monument classification
2014
Inauguration commemorative plaque
2023
Heritage Lotto Selection
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

The synagogue in its entirety (Box AO 56): inscription by decree of 25 May 2009

Key figures

Beate Klarsfeld - Militant and historian Presented at the 2014 inauguration.
Djoudé Merabet - Mayor of Elbeuf (in 2014) Participation in the commemorative ceremony.
Marie Lippman - President of American Friends Association Involved in preserving the place.
Simon Sender - President of the Elbeuf Synagogue Community representative in 2014.

Origin and history

The Elbeuf Synagogue, located at 29 rue Grémont, was built in the early twentieth century in 1909 in two buildings dating back to the 1850s. It was the result of the installation of Alsatian and Mosellan Jews after the annexation of their region by Germany in 1871. These newcomers contributed to the development of the local textile industry, a key economic sector for Elbeuf. Before this synagogue, worship was celebrated in private oratories, reflecting the progressive growth of the Jewish community in the city.

During World War II, in 1942, yellow stars were painted on the walls of the synagogue by anonymous figures, symbols of anti-Semitic persecution under the occupation. These marks have been preserved as historical evidence. In 2014, a commemorative plaque was inaugurated in the presence of personalities such as Beate Klarsfeld and local representatives, recalling the dangers of racism and anti-Semitism. This ceremony marked the memorial importance of the place, far beyond its religious function.

Architecturally, the synagogue is distinguished by its arched bays and Moorish decor, including the Law Tables above the entrance. The building, made of stone, includes two old houses transformed: one serving as a vestibule and a dwelling for the rabbi, the other sheltering the sanctuary with its nave and its bima. Despite its closure to worship since the 2010s due to its condition and the decline of the community, restoration work was undertaken in 2022, including covering. In 2023, it was selected for the Heritage Lotto, highlighting its cultural and historical importance.

Classified as a historical monument in 2009, the Elbeuf synagogue embodies both a unique architectural heritage and a painful collective memory. Its present state, requiring reparations to hunt pigeons and stop infiltrations, reflects the challenges of preserving historical places of worship in the face of the decline of the faithful. Its inclusion in safeguard programs such as that of the Heritage Foundation reflects the desire to perpetuate its heritage, both for the Jewish community and for local and national history.

External links

Page Wikipedia
Page Monumentum