In 1866, the largest synagogue in Berlin, the New Synagogue, was opened. This religious center marked the full integration of Jews into Berlin society after religious freedom was allowed with the Edict of Potsdam in 1685. Jews had lived in Berlin since 1671, when 50 wealthy Jewish families expelled from Vienna were taken in by the court of great Elector of Brandenburg Frederick William.
In the 19th century, Berlin Jews had integrated into society thanks to having reformed their beliefs the previous century and having largely abandoned the Orthodox Jewish faith.
The new synagogue was the center of Jewish worship in the city until it was stormed on the night of November 9, 1938, the night of broken glass. The building was broken into and set on fire, but was saved from destruction thanks to the intervention of the police. The building was expropriated at this time and turned into a German Army warehouse.
The building finally collapsed during the bombing raids prior to the Battle of Berlin in April 1945. The façade and entrance hall were rebuilt in the 1990s.
How to get here
The new synagogue is located on the Oranienburgerstrasse. To get there we must take the S-bahn lines S1, S2 or S26 to the Oranienburgerstrasse stop. . To find out the best combination to get there, you can consult the following LINK.
Schedule of the new Synagogue
- October to March
- Monday to Thursday – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Friday – 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Saturday closed
- Sunday – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- April to September
- Monday to Thursday – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Friday – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Saturday closed
- Sunday – 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Visit the new synagogue in Berlin
The main façade and the entrance hall of the synagogue were rebuilt in the 1990s. The synagogue as such has not been rebuilt to this day. In the place there is a small Jewish cultural center, which can be visited but lacks great interest.