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Origin and history

The Bergheim synagogue, located in the Upper Rhine in the Greater East Region, was built between 1860 and 1863 by architect Auguste Hartmann to replace a medieval building destroyed by a fire in 1840. It rises on the site of a first synagogue attested from the 14th century, a symbol of a flourishing Jewish community despite the repeated persecutions and expulsions between the Middle Ages and the 18th century. Its neo-Roman architecture, with central nave and low side, reflects the stylistic influences of the era, while its interior preserves a medieval ordinance.

The Jewish community of Bergheim, one of the most important in Haute-Alsace, reached its peak in the 19th century, with more than 500 members in 1841. After the emancipation of the Jews in 1791, she maintained a yeshivah and a school, despite local tensions culminating in 1832 with an anti-Jewish riot. The synagogue, looted by the Nazis in 1940 and closed in 1991, was sold to the city in 1992. Today it is disused of the cult, it hosts cultural activities and has benefited from restorations, especially in 2000 for its facade.

The building is distinguished by its portal adorned with a Hebrew inscription from Isaiah (56.7): "My house will be called House of Prayer for all peoples". Inside, the women's stand, the arches in the middle of the hanger and the oculus create a remarkable elevation for a modest building. The liturgical furniture, including the destroyed Holy Ark, was partly preserved by the Historical and Contemporary Jewish Art Fund of Colmar. The synagogue, classified as a Historical Monument in 1990, also bears witness to the turbulent history of the Jews in Alsace, marked by cycles of prosperity, expulsion and resettlement.

Before the 19th century, the Jewish presence in Bergheim dates back to 1298, with a first mention of a judenschule (synagogue) around 1300. The community, accused of poisoning the wells during the black plague (1349), was exterminated, but the medieval synagogue escaped destruction. Reauthorized in 1375 by the archduke Leopold II, the Jews played a key economic role (livestock trade, pawnshop), despite restrictions such as the expulsion of 1568. In the 18th century, they were able to buy houses, a sign of gradual, though limited, integration.

Several physical traces of this history remain, such as the house of Kotsen (XVI century) on the Rue du Vieille Hospital, decorated with a Hebrew inscription (Barukh ata be-boekha...), or a medieval menorah preserved in the parish church. These elements, as well as the mezouzah visible on ancient houses, illustrate the multi-sera anchor of the community. After 1945, the disappearance of the Jews from Bergheim led to the decommissioning of the site, transformed into a municipal cultural space.

The synagogue is part of a broader Alsatian heritage network, including the Jewish cemeteries of Seletat (used since the seventeenth century) and the synagogues of Guebwiller or Ribeauvillé. Its architecture, combining neo-Roman and medieval heritages, makes it a rare example in France. The restoration work, supported by patrons such as MAAF, aims to preserve this unique testimony while opening up to new cultural vocations.

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