A picturesque city, with many colourful houses spread around the old city area, Naumburg (Saale) also used to host a small Jewish community, first historically recognized in 1350.
Close to the central square - markt - the Jewish street - Jüdengasse - was partially rebuilt in the last years and nowadays is part of the usual touristic tours regularly offered to the tourists from all over Germany visiting what is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the center of the country.
Nowadays, there is no significant Jewish presence in Naumburg (Saale) the former Jewish history being remembered by two memorial inscriptions: one in the memory of a pogrom that took place in 1494 and the other to remember the Jews killed during Shoah.
In 1440, the archives mention the presence of 22 Jews in Naumburg (Saale). Unfortunately, even there was a small number, they were considered threatening enough by Elector Johann Friedrich who ordered their dispersion. The synagogue and the ritual bath - mikwaot - were destroyed.
After the incident, in the last centuries, the Jews came and go, without establishing a constant high number presence. The few that were living here between 1933-1945 were killed in Shoah.
This stone representation of the 1494 events, on one of the walls of the Jüdengasse is an episode that went on repeat very often in Europe, in Germany and abroad. Innocent people that only wanted to live their life, were forced to leave in the middle of the night, with children and leaving everything behind. When were lucky enough to be able to run. Now, there is a state where Jews can go and live, but apparently, this is not good either, because, it seems, this fight and hate is never ending.
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