Now More than Ever!
The Re-Establishment of the Jewish Community of Chemnitz in 1945
On 7 September 1945, 18 Jewish survivors gathered in an unassuming residential building in Chemnitz-Ebersdorf and re-established the Jewish Community of Chemnitz. Some had survived forced labour in the city, whilst others had returned from concentration camps. Just a few months after the war and the Shoah, they laid the foundations for a new beginning for Jewish life in Chemnitz.
By February 1946, 42 of the approximately 60 returning Jews had registered as members. In order to proudly bear the word ‘Jew’ in their name once again, they chose the name ‘Jewish Community’ and no longer called themselves the ‘Israelite Religious Community’. In September 1946, the executive committee submitted an application for recognition to the Saxon state government; by March 1947, the founding process had been legally completed.
The exhibition commemorates the men and women who dared to make a fresh start despite persecution, loss and destruction. It tells of their determination to make Jewish life visible and vibrant once more in a post-war society that showed no interest in their stories or needs. Through the life stories of these individuals and the key locations of the community, the exhibition illustrates how a new Jewish community emerged – sustained by solidarity, faith and the desire for a safe home.