Mannheim's Jewish community regained a centre for their
religious and cultural life, which can be traced back to 1660 and
even managed to survive the period of National Socialism, with the
building of the new synagogue (architect: Karl Schmucker + Partner
Planungsgesellschaft mbH). The building is situated in F 3 not far
from the market square (Marktplatz), where the last central
synagogue had been located since 1855. Construction work began in
May 1985 and the building was officially opened on September 13th
1987. The complex itself covers an area of 3005 square metres, that
is to say it totals 18,415 square metres of internal usable space
and encloses a volume of 61,345 cubic metres. The entire building
complex contains 13,435 square metres of utilisable floor
space.
Four outer walls, largely consisting of glass, and a central
dome give the building its distinctive features. This style of
architecture is not within the usual tradition of building in
Germany, which is marked by an elongated hall with three-tiered
roofing, but is closer to the traditions as practised in Jerusalem,
where central dome buildings have dominated the cityscape for over
2000 years. Thus a square was chosen as the basic ground plan, at
the centre of which is the almemar, the raised platform on which
the reading desk stands, from which the Rabbi reads from the Tora.
A shallow dome spans the hall and is supported by four large
pillars. Light streams in through a glass lantern in the roof of
the dome and is filtered by a horizontally leaded windows made of
white and blue opal glass. It depicts the Magen David, The Shield
of David, a symbol composed of two overlaid equilateral triangles
that form a six-pointed star, the Star of David, and this
represents the fusing of the realms of the visible and the
invisible. The segments of the dome are lined with a predominantly
blue covering made of wool (designed by Peter and Paul Stasek),
whose bright colours symbolise the sky above Jerusalem.
A ceiling segmented by beams frames the dome. The main supports,
the ceiling and the gallery are a deep blue similar to the dome and
form a dramatic contrast to the granite red concrete of the floors
and the walls, such that the surrounding windows come into full
effect.
The high arched windows have been inserted into the walls
segmented with pilaster-strips (designed by Karl-Heinz Traut). With
their opaline panes the leaded windows create a self-contained and
peacefully sacral atmosphere. Their subtle blues complement the
architecture and colouring of the hall. In the evenings the hall is
ceremoniously lit by a shiny metallic chandelier.
The side of the synagogue facing Jerusalem contains the Tora
shrine which, just like the almemar, is carved from maple wood. It
is adorned with a relief (designed by Frank Meisler) depicting the
walls, gates and hills of Jerusalem as well as the Temple Mount.
The doors have been adorned with tablets in Hebraic script covered
in gold and silver in a similar fashion to the relief. The eternal
light symbolises the word (Exodus 25, 8) And let them make me a
sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
The gallery, which marks out a second level in the hall, is
traditionally the place where women worship. The seating in the
gallery is raised and surrounds the hall on three sides.
The same material that was used to line the interior was also
used for the outer walls, that is concrete clad in red granite.
Thus the synagogue stands out from the residential buildings not
only because it is a free-standing structure, but also because of
the cladding chosen.
Without doubt the Mannheim synagogue is one of the most
beautiful in Germany.
Jüdische Gemeinde
F 3 , 1
68159 Mannheim
Tel. 0621 153974
Fax 0621 106513
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