JEWISH Colmar

Judaism in Colmar

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Rachel Kaplan

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James Boutique Hôtel

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Café Dussourd

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Synagogue of Colmar

Colmar is one of the oldest communities in Alsace and a synagogue is mentioned as early as in the 13th century, destroyed by fire in 1279. During the massacre of the Jews, burned alive in 1349, the city confiscated the synagogue. The Jewish community and its synagogue began again around 1380 but vanished in 1512, when Colmar expelled the Jews. Again, the synagogue was confiscated by the city. During the revolution, some Jews were able to return to Colmar. In 1823, the consistory based in Wintzenheim, the largest community in the Upper Rhine, was transferred to Colmar. After praying in various oratories, the community built a monumental synagogue, in a neo-Romanesque style, which was inaugurated on September 15th 1843. It was renovated in 1885 and 1913, with the addition of an extra gallery for women, and the replacement of the central wooden platform by a sandstone platform. During World War II, the Germans used the synagogue as an auction house for furniture stolen from expelled Jews, and then turned it into an arsenal. The ransacked building was restored after the Liberation and inaugurated in 1961. The synagogue has been registered as a historical monument since July 1984.

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Selestat Synagogue

Sélestat is an ancient community, which disappeared in the 16th century. It was not reconstituted at the 19th century. The oratory, dating from 1836 and installed at the Poêle des Laboureurs, was replaced by a synagogue, built in 1890. The latter, ransacked by the Nazis, was restored after the war without the original dome. The rabbinate of Sélestat dates from 1866 and replaces that of Muttersholtz. In the 14th century the community was relatively large, judging by the size of the Jewish quarter. The synagogue was located in an alleyway, which is still visible today, next to the "pharmacie du Soleil" in the "rue des Clefs" (then "Judengasse") and which connected with the "rue Ste-Barbe" (then "Schmiedgasse"). The name of Rabbi Ahron, to whom people came from Strasbourg to study the sacred texts, and especially that of his son, the famous Rav Schemouel Schlettstadt, who directed the yeshivah (talmudic school) of Strasbourg and is known as a compiler and decision-maker, have been preserved from this century. The synagogue having been destroyed in 1470 to make way for the former St. Barbe arsenal, the community acquired, through the intermediary of the Magistrate, the former Poële des Laboureurs to establish its new place of worship. This building can still be seen at no. 3 Rue Ste-Barbe (rear part of the Boespflug building). The expression "auf der Judschul" (which previously referred only to the Place Ste-Barbe) was commonly used to designate the future Rue des Juifs, which became Rue Ste-Barbe in 1910. After several waves of persecutions and expulsions, notably in 1349, during the Black Death, when the Jews of Western Europe were accused of having poisoned the wells, they were definitively expelled from Sélestat around 1650. However, Jewish merchants and showmen were authorized to come and practice their trade at the annual fairs as well as the weekly markets. This situation lasted until the Revolution. In 1622, on the other hand, the Jews of Bergheim, Ribeauvillé, Scherwiller and Dambach founded the present Israelite cemetery in Sélestat. It had to be enlarged several times afterwards. This is where Reisel Sée, whose filial love was immortalized by the moralists of the Revolution, was later buried. In 1890, the architect of the city of Selestat, Alexandre Stamm (1835-1906), designed a new building. It has a central plan, like many Rhine synagogues, and is in the Romanesque-Byzantine style. It is a beautifully colored building with alternating pink sandstone, light sandstone and brick. The dome on a drum "with oculus" which decorated it was destroyed by the Nazis in 1940 and was not rebuilt. During this restoration, the old ritual bath (Mikveh) from 1836, part of an earlier building, was discovered in the basement. The Hebrew inscription above the main door means: "This is the door of the Lord. The righteous shall pass through it". Image credit: © Ralph Hammann - Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons I, Olevy, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

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Wintzenheim Jewish Cemetery

When entering the cemetery, this "Bäjs Aulem", this "House of Eternity", the contrast is great between the oldest sandstone tombs of the Vosges, whose sagging stone leans like an orant bent in prayer, and the order of the most recent burials, to whom the the rigidity of the marble or granite slabs confers a certain bourgeois respectability. A monument also commemorates members of the community and neighboring villages who perished in the resistance or in deportation during the Second World War. Opposite the entrance, a large rectangular square. A tiny plaque placed on the ground recalls that four hundred graves were torn from this cemetery, carried away by Nazi barbarism. The traces of at least three generations have thus been erased. The graves, like the Jews at the same time, went to an unknown destination. This void, redoubled by the near absence of Jews, in a place once inhabited by a community bustling , does not fail to question us. It is all the more significant that the Jews have participated for nearly five centuries in the history of the city. Until the end of the 18th century, the Jews of Wintzenheim had to bury their dead in the cemetery of Jungholtz, about thirty kilometers away. They had to pay a tax in each village and in each borough crossed. It was not until 1795 that they were authorized to open a cemetery along the road to Turckheim. When it was created, the cemetery occupied an area of 26 ares. A 16-acre plot, acquired in 1826, allowed it to be enlarged in order to bury the Jews of Turckheim, Ingersheim, Wettolsheim and Munster as well. The oldest tomb that remains today dates from 2 Germinal of the year II (1797). The oldest tombs, from around 1797 to 1860, are characterized by a relative uniformity, in accordance with the imperative of simplicity and equality which must unite the Jews in death. They respond to a restraint that refuses the ostentation of social disparities: each tomb is made up of a vertical sandstone slab. Most do not wear decorative patterns. Some are surmounted by a ball, a pine cone, a stylized flower, or even a decorated pediment. From the second half of the 19th century, there is gradually more variety in the decor: hands of the Cohanim, ewer of Lévy, weeping willow and winged hourglass. Religious, and above all social, distinction imposes its mark.

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Tours of Colmar

Judaism in Colmar

In the streets of Colmar, discover the symbols, statues and inscriptions that tell the story of the city´s Jewish community. At the Bartholdi museum, you will visit a room entirely dedicated to its history, presenting items from Jewish family ritual. You will also be able to get inside the Colmar synagogue, which is quite exceptional, as a synagogue is not usually open to the public.

Hopla Guide

Hi there! We are Laura et Georges, the team behind Hopla Guide. We run this project together, and in our spare time, we run our life together. We are an international couple, she’s Argentinian, he’s French, but both “Made in Alsace”. Travellers, food lovers, culture addicts, wanderers... our lives brought us in many places, from Europe to Latin America. Every trip, we seek for authentic experiences. We want to discover it all, but freely, spontaneously. During our trips, we found ourselves with two options: either we had to follow a guided group, losing our independence, or wander around with the feeling of missing out on important places. What to see ? In what order ? And what souvenirs to buy and bring back home ? Is there no other way? What if we could visit a city on our own, with freedom and flexibility, and be sure we are going to see everything, learn about the local culture, and have fun at the same time? What if we could be guided explorers? One day, we decided to put our abilities together and innovate. Laura has a master's degree in tourism specialized in management, marketing and eco-sustainability. Georges has a master's degree in history of art from Paris-Sorbonne university. We both have professional experience in tourism companies. That is how Hopla Guide started. We built a solution, reimagined guided tours, and created a complete experience, both physical and digital. Cultural information had to be accessible to the explorer at any time, so we chose to build a mobile app, allowing interactivity and flexibility. But we wanted to go further and create something that doesn't stay on your phone but materialises in the real world. So we selected exciting items that enhance the visit and bring the tour on another level of interaction, using other senses : touch, taste and smell. We believe in slow tourism, in a respectful and deeper way of discovering. We empower little groups to live a true cultural exploration, not just a quick run in the city to take some pictures and go away without learning anything. Our explorers are meant to get an honest grasp of the local identity. We invite you to take part in our story and give a chance to another kind of cultural experience.

Part of Germany until 1681, Colmar has a Jewish community that dates back to the mid-13th century. The medieval community, which owned a synagogue, mikvah, and a cemetery, settled between the present Rue Chauffour and Rue Berthe-Molly (then names Rue des Juifs). We can arrange for you to visit the Colmar Synagogue, originally built in 1840. This neo-Romanesque synagogue was destroyed by the Nazis during World War II and then restored by the local community after the war. You may also tour the Musée Bartholdi, which contains a fine collection of Jewish rituals objects and synagogue furnishings. The museum is located in the house of Auguste Bartholdi, the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty. Another museum to see this year is the newly renovated Unterlinden, listed as one of the notable destinations for 2016.

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מסעדות בסגנון יהודי JEWISH STYLE RESTAURANTS

Café Dussourd

Located in the center of the city, Cafe Dussourd offers a variety of European dishes and a wide selections of pastries.

Le Rapp

Beauséjour Le Restaurant

In a relaxed setting and a family home atmosphere, come and have a drink to rest from your long day of sightseeing. You will be able to take advantage of our bar menu, rich in many possibilities with or without alcohol, with an important part made with products from the Alsace region. You will also have access to our wine list by the glass or in the bottle. Our conservation system, the tower by advineo, allows us to offer you a wide choice of wines while guaranteeing optimal preservation of the aromas. Finally, for the most music lovers among you, our Yamaha piano is at your disposal to delight your entourage as well as other visitors.

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Guides

Rachel Kaplan

Shalom ! I created European Jewish Heritage Tours in 1998 because I strongly believed that Europe was making amends for its terrible past, by investing in the rebuilding of Jewish communities across the Continent, and inaugurating new museums and Jewish centers in key European capitals. As the European Editor of INSIDE Magazine, the quarterly published by The Jewish Exponent of Philadelphia, I had the chance to personally visit and write about many of these destinations and in so doing, found a fascinating Jewish legacy everywhere I went. I also discovered others through researching my four books: Little-known Museums In and Around Paris, London, Berlin and Rome. The aim of European Jewish Heritage Tours today is to propose private customized tours for groups and individuals that offer an overview that both reveals the European Jewish past, and invites a discovery of Jewish life today. As the “Chosen People” we have the privilege and responsibility of knowing and honoring our heritage wherever it may be.

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קראו עוד בלוגים וספרים אלקטרוניים READ MORE BLOGS AND EBOOKS

yannis wissinger August 4, 2022

The Jewish Story of Colmar, France

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Hotels in Colmar

James Boutique Hôtel

The 4-star James Boutique Hotel is, above all, a refined and welcoming family establishment perfectly suited to the tranquillity and pleasure of each of its guests. (a 2-minute walk from the historic centre) For a romantic, family or professional stay, the James Boutique Hotel in Colmar offers all its energy to meet the high standards of its clientele. Located in the centre of Colmar, the capital of Alsatian wines, the hotel offers a unique and restful establishment with 30 rooms & junior suites that ensure great attention to detail and great comfort for its guests. We look forward to being your personal advisor during your stay, for an incomparable immersive experience in Colmar and Alsace and the different treasures to be found off the beaten track: gastronomy, wines, eclectic landscapes, typical encounters, etc. Your day will start with an Alsatian discovery workshop that will titillate your taste buds with our breakfast prepared entirely with local produce. Our family and our team will ensure you faultless service during your break in Colmar. Make your stay in Alsace an unforgettable experience. Here, you are at home.

Novotel Suites Colmar Centre

A modern nod to Alsace with neat and refined decor, the Novotel Suites Colmar Centre offers contemporary, spacious bedrooms in the city center. During your stay, take time to enjoy our terrace, lounge bar and well being center with sauna, hammam and fitness room for over 16s. Offering a rich and varied buffet breakfast, our hotel in Colmar also has a Boutique Gourmande where you can buy local products. Our Colmar hotel is ideally situated - near the Unterlinden museum, Saint-Martin church and La Petite Venise with its canals and half-timbered houses. During the festive season, you are a five-minute walk from the Christmas market. With the TGV railway st During the vacation season, only a 5 min. walk to Christmas market. Close to exit of A35 highway, the hotel also has a garage for 10e/night by reservation subject to availability, free for bikes Nestled in the midst of Alsace's vineyards, Colmar's charming traditional houses, canals, pretty flowers, gastronomy, fine wines, cultural wealth and heritage make it a miniature Alsace, preserving a particular art de vivre.

Odalys City La Rose d'Argent

Just 200 meters from the city centre of Colmar this Odalys Apart’hotel consists of a completely new building with 3 floors with lift connected to a fully renovated 2-storey house with loft. This holiday rental features a private garden, a spa and relaxation area, a multi-purpose meeting room and a breakfast room. Free parking spaces are available (spaces limited). At your disposal: Spa area (200m²) : 35m² heated pool (30°) with a swim machine and massage jets; Fitness equipment; Laundry facilities (extra charge); Free Wifi; Outdoor parking (extra charge, spaces limited) – opposite 15 rue de Grillenbreit The Odalys Apart'hotel La Rose d'Argent restaurant serves a breakfast buffet. The holiday rentals in this Apart’hotel range from studios for 2 people to 1 bedoom apartments for 4 people. All accommodation has a kitchenette (table top fridge/freezer, ceramic hob with 2 burners, dishwasher for 6 settings, microwave/oven and cupboards). Holiday rentals have either a bathroom with bath or shower, heated towel rail, vanity unit with mirror, TV and Free Wifi. Some apartments have a balcony and all have access to the private garden between the two buildings.

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