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Origin and history

The Scherwiller Synagogue, located on Rue du Giessen, has its origins in the late eighteenth century. A first synagogue already existed at this site, but the current building was erected around 1790, according to the sources of Raphael and Weyl. This place of worship, typical of the Alsatian Jewish heritage, reflects the importance of the local Jewish community at that time, in an area marked by cultural and religious coexistence.

In 1861, the synagogue was enlarged by A. Ringeisen, as evidenced by a religious inscription on the later elevation door. The work of this period, carried out in the 3rd quarter of the 19th century, made it possible to adapt the building to the growing needs of the community. After World War II, the abandoned synagogue was transformed into a shed for firefighters, resulting in major architectural changes, such as the piercing of a large carriageway door on the front façade.

In the interior, the original layout has partially survived despite the transformations. The women's stand, located in the posterior half of the building, was preserved with its wooden guardrails and iron cast iron balustrade, decorated with neo-Gothic motifs. These elements recall the Jewish religious architecture of the time and the distinctive social role of women in synagogues. Since 1985, the former synagogue has been included in the additional inventory of historic monuments, recognizing its heritage value.

Today, the building belongs to the municipality of Scherwiller and illustrates the changes in the Jewish heritage in Alsace. Its history, marked by periods of prosperity and then decline, reflects the upheavals experienced by Jewish communities in this border region. The synagogue, though disfigured by its later uses, remains an architectural and historical testimony of the Jewish presence in the Great East.

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