Hagenow

Old synagogue

The Alte Synagoge or Hanna-Meinungen-Haus (old synagogue) is a former synagogue in the old town of Hagenow. Hirsch Samuel Meinungen purchased the plot in 1820, with the intention of building a synagogue for the then 80 person strong Jewish community in Hagenow. In 1828 the architectural complex contained a school/parish hall, a cart shed (where carts for funerals were kept), the synagogue with a Mikwe or Mikveh, a bath for the ritual immersion in Judaism. On August 15 of the same year, the solemn consecration of the temple took place.^[2]

Between 1839 and 1881, Jewish families from surrounding areas (i.e. Lübtheen and Vellahn) joined the Hagenow synagogue, however due to the absence of a permanent rabbi (in 1907) and a population migration to more affluent cities, the number of members dwindled and with them the funding and sponsorships for the synagogue. The last elected leader of the community, Samuel Meinungen (grandson of Hirsch S. Meinungen) proposed that the use of the prayer house should be changed. Although Meinungen never intended to sell the building, he considered renting it out to the Catholic church, a proposal rejected by the high council.^[3]

Due to the Nazi regime Meinungen and his family, including his infant daughter Hanna Meinungen (ca. 18 months), were deported to Auschwitz concentration camp, where Samuel Meinungen died on the 25.11.1937.^[4] Although untraceable, it is speculated that his entire family died around this time. During the Kristallnacht (1938) most of the interior was destroyed, however due to its position within the town and the close proximity to adjacent properties,^[5] the building and the Mikwe remained largely intact. Extensive restoration of the Synagogue started in 2004 and lasted until 2009. Nowadays the building is used as a community hall, a museum and a venue for special events such as exhibitions from local schools.^[6]