A piece of Jewish history

Story and photo by Sally Friday
Contributing writer

A piece of Jewish history can be seen in a small museum in Steinbach am Glan.
 
In earlier days, this town not far from Ramstein was nicknamed “Juden-Steinbach” (Jewish Steinbach) to distinguish itself from other towns also named Steinbach.  It was also called that because a fairly high percentage of its population was Jewish. In 1825, about 30 percent of its population was Jewish. At that time, all the people of the village did their best to work together in this poor region. The founder of the Westpfalz diamond industry, Isidor Trifus, worked in this area, hiring many people.  Jewish businesses benefited from the community. There was a synagogue with a ritual bath and a school for Jewish children. The Jews also had their own cemetery.

All the people in Steinbach worked together and lived by each other peacefully until
anti-Semitism became more visible after World War I. Jews chafed under more stringent rules and regulations.  Those who could emigrated to other places far away—Argentina, New York, Paris.  Those who couldn’t went to other towns in Germany. In 1933, Jewish businesses were boycotted. In 1938, Kristallnacht brought destruction to the synagogue and the homes of the Jews. Eventually, those Jews who stayed were deported to the concentration camp in Dachau. Jewish businesses were destroyed, homes were sold for a fraction of their worth to non-Jewish citizens and the synagogue was converted to a hospital for horses during the war.

Many of the founders of this museum were children during this time or had parents who told them the stories about former neighbors, the houses in the village which belonged to those neighbors and the children who used to play together. It was felt that this would be a memorial for these people who had lived, worked and eventually disappeared from the area so that they would not be forgotten. 

The Heimatsverein (local history club) curates and staffs the museum and tends to the lovely Jewish cemetery just outside of town.  The Heimatsverein and villagers help with docent work.

The museum contains a variety of Jewish memorabilia. There are well-written timelines about the history of Steinbach and its Jewish citizens. A congregation in New York donated a Torah to the museum. Former residents from Steinbach who emigrated have donated their family’s mementos from the time they lived there. A display about Isidor Trifus and his diamond cutting industry also occupies a spot.

The friendly members of the Heimatverein are there to give information. Usually, an interpreter is there for English-speaking visitors. The displays are currently written in German, but are being translated.

Opening times are the first and third Sunday of the month, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. or by appointment (e-mail fridaysga@yahoo.com).  Admission is free.  There is a paperback book about the Jewish history of the area for sale.  Groups are welcome and if the group has a special interest in a particular area, the Heimatsverein members who are most knowledgeable in that area will be happy to be on hand if the request is made prior to your visit.