The Jewish community in Bingen is one of the oldest and most significant in the present state of Rhineland-Palatinate. References to it have been documented as far back as the 12th Century, with the community growing to 713 members, almost 8% of the population, by 1900.

Its synagogue was first mentioned in the 14th Century, but over time, the building fell victim to several fires; being rebuilt each time at approximately the same location. The old synagogue was located on the “Judengasse” at the corner of the “Rathhausstraße” and the “Rheinstraße”. It was renovated and expanded several times to keep up with the rapidly growing community, with a gallery erected in 1871 to facilitate an organ and the choir. This, however, also provoked various conflicts and prompted an orthodox minority to split off and form its own community who conducted their worship services from then on in a prayer hall located on the “Amtsstraße”.

A new synagogue built on the “Rochusstraße” was dedicated in 1905. This representative structure oriented on Romanesque style churches was an expression of Jewish emancipation. The building on the “Rheinstraße” was ultimately sold and served various functions after its profanation (e.g. guest house, discotheque and youth centre).

During the pogroms of 1938, SA troops and Nazi sympathizers destroyed the interior of the new synagogue, including the organ, and doused the ruins with tar. They finally set it on fire on the evening of the 10th of November, burning this place of worship down to its perimeter walls. The entire building was torn down in 1970, with only a section of the façade surviving.

The architecture with its magnificent interior resemble the synagogue in Wittlich, which was constructed at approximately the same time (1910). Both buildings are an expression of a self-confident urban Judaism that flourished greatly during that period. They could be clearly distinguished from the modest synagogues located between the Rhine, Nahe, Saar and Mosel rivers.

Photo documentation: Alemannia Judaica; „…und dies ist die Pforte des Himmels“ (...and this is the gateway to heaven). Synagogues of Rhineland-Palatinate - Saarland, publ. by the “Landesamt für Denkmalpflege Rheinland-Pfalz” (Rhineland-Palatinate state office for the preservation of historic landmarks, Mainz 2005) Pgs. 109 to 113.