Construction of the previous synagogue 1827 (≈ 1827)
Replaces an older building.
1897
Construction of the current synagogue
Construction of the current synagogue 1897 (≈ 1897)
Date on the eardrum.
1940-1945
Damage during the Second World War
Damage during the Second World War 1940-1945 (≈ 1943)
Damaged and restored building.
1962
Post-war reconstruction
Post-war reconstruction 1962 (≈ 1962)
Restoration after damage.
16 août 1994
Registration for Historic Monuments
Registration for Historic Monuments 16 août 1994 (≈ 1994)
Protection of facades and stained glass windows.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Original facades and roofs and figurative stained glass windows (Case 1 269/138): inscription by order of 16 August 1994
Key figures
E. Schwarz - Rabbi and local historian
Author of a book on rabbinat.
Origin and history
The Synagogue of Soultz-sous-Forêts, located on Rue de la Bergerie, was built at the end of the 19th century in 1897, as indicated by the date on its eardrum. It replaces an earlier synagogue, built in 1827 at the site of an even older building. This first building was demolished in 1897 to give way to the current structure, which itself suffered damage during the Second World War before being rebuilt in 1962.
The tympanum of the synagogue bears a Hebrew inscription from a biblical verse: "What beautiful are your tents, Jacob, and your dwelling places, Israel", accompanied by a Talmudic date corresponding to 1897. This architectural detail underscores the symbolic and religious importance of the place to the local Jewish community. The synagogue was included in the Supplementary Inventory of Historic Monuments by order of 16 August 1994, thereby recognizing its heritage value.
Today, the building houses the house of the Associations and remains a memorial to the Alsatian Jewish heritage. It is open to the public during the European Days of Jewish Culture and Heritage, allowing visitors to discover its history and architecture. The site is managed by a cultural association, which also organizes visits for groups by appointment.
Historical sources mention several researches on the Jewish presence in Soultz-sous-Forêts, notably through works such as "The Synagogue and Jewish Cemetery of Soultz-sous-Forêts" or "The Rabbinate of Surbourg-Soultz-sous-Forêts (1784-1884)", written by E. Schwarz, local rabbi. These writings document the evolution of the Jewish community and its anchoring in the region since the 18th century.
The building is distinguished by its original facades and roofs, as well as its figurative stained glass windows, which have been protected since 1994. These artistic elements, combined with its turbulent history, make it a valuable testimony of religious architecture and community life in Alsace in the late 19th and 20th centuries.
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