Gelsenkirchen
Georgstraße 2, 45879 Gelsenkirchen, Deutschland
Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen | Photos & History
Anyone looking for photos, backgrounds, and specific visiting information about the Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen does not just land on a mere address, but rather at a place with a lot of history, present, and symbolism. The community at Georgstraße 2 stands on a historically significant site where the former synagogue was destroyed in 1938; in February 2007, the New Synagogue was inaugurated here. Today, the building presents itself as a vibrant center of Jewish life in Gelsenkirchen, a place of prayer, learning, encounter, and remembrance. The official website not only provides information about tours but also films, exhibition pages, and images that give a first visual impression. This is precisely why the interest in photos is so understandable: the building and the community cannot be grasped at a glance but reveal themselves through history, architecture, and the lived practice on site. ([jggelsenkirchen.de](https://jggelsenkirchen.de/neue-synagoge/))
This page consolidates the most important information in a way that is truly useful for visitors, families, school classes, groups, and culture-interested guests: What can be seen here? What is the history of the building? What offers are there for visits? When is the community accessible? And how does the location fit into the Jewish life of the city? The Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen describes itself as traditionally orthodox and currently has about 310 members. At the same time, it is open to interested parties and offers tours and events. Thus, the community is not only a religious place but also a place of mediation where one can connect the history of Jewish life in Gelsenkirchen with concrete spaces, faces, and impressions. ([jggelsenkirchen.de](https://jggelsenkirchen.de/neue-synagoge/))
Photos, first impressions, and visual orientation
The search term photos is particularly relevant for this location because the Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen works with images, film offerings, and exhibition content on its official pages. It is not just about a single beautiful motif but about visual orientation: What does the community center look like? How does the New Synagogue appear from the outside? How is the history told inside? The website offers film contributions about the history of the community, as well as an exhibition on Jewish life in Gelsenkirchen. The city of Gelsenkirchen complements this perspective with its own cultural page about the synagogue, describing the facility as a place of prayer, assembly, learning, and encounter. Those searching for photos usually want to see exactly this context: a building that is not museum-like but houses a vibrant community. ([jggelsenkirchen.de](https://jggelsenkirchen.de/))
Especially in the initial digital contact, images play a significant role because the synagogue and the community center are not only religious spaces but also places with a clear message. The community has consciously anchored a biblical verse on its building that emphasizes the open character and highlights the encounter with non-Jewish residents of Gelsenkirchen. In photos, this claim often becomes particularly clear: one sees not only architecture but also attitude. The official website also makes it clear that visitors are welcome, that tours are offered, and that the community understands itself as an open place. Therefore, images here are more than mere decoration. They help capture the character of the building, recognize the connection between past and present, and understand the atmosphere of a place that is simultaneously a refuge, a place of learning, and a meeting point. ([jggelsenkirchen.de](https://jggelsenkirchen.de/neue-synagoge/))
For good visual orientation, it is also worthwhile to look at the historical juxtaposition: The current synagogue stands where a destroyed building once stood, and this very location makes photos so meaningful. Exterior shots show the clear integration into the urban landscape, interior views refer to the function as a prayer room and community space, and exhibition images tell of the new beginning of Jewish life after 1945. On the city of Gelsenkirchen's page, the synagogue is also described as a place where Jewish life occurs in all its facets. Therefore, those who initially approach through photos quickly get the impression that here one sees neither a mere memorial backdrop nor a pure event space, but a community with religious, cultural, and historical depth. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/kultur/kultur-_und_veranstaltungsorte/synagoge_gelsenkirchen/index.aspx))
History and new beginning of Jewish life
The history of the Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen goes back a long way. The city of Gelsenkirchen reminds us that around 1830, the first Jewish families settled in the city and that a synagogue community was established in 1863. From a synagogue society founded in 1870, an independent Jewish community developed in 1874. The early community grew, increasingly organized itself independently, and had a synagogue built in 1884/85 according to plans by the Essen architect Peter Zindel. This historical development shows that Jewish life in Gelsenkirchen did not only become visible in the present but is deeply rooted in the city's history. The later destruction during the Reich Pogrom Night in 1938 marks the brutal break with which Jewish life was to be extinguished. The city explicitly states that the synagogue from 1884/85 was set on fire in November 1938 and subsequently demolished. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/stadtprofil/stadtgeschichten/erinnerungsorte/_doc/SynagogeCity_250x435_Endf.pdf))
The second major chapter of this history begins after 1945. Survivors around Kurt Neuwald reestablished the community; the city cites 1946 as the time of its renewed constitution. In 1957, the community settled at Von-der-Recke-Straße 9, where classrooms, offices, a library, and a community hall were housed. In 1958, a simple synagogue extension with about 80 seats was added in the courtyard. This phase is important because it shows the transition from a destroyed past to a cautious but determined reconstruction. The community later grew mainly through immigration from the former Soviet Union and its successor states. This development also shapes the current form of the community: It is historically deeply rooted, yet shaped by several layers of migration and memory. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/Kultur/Museen_und_Dauerausstellungen/Alter_juedischer_Betsaal/index.aspx))
The new building of the New Synagogue at the current location Georgstraße 2 was therefore much more than a construction project. The city of Gelsenkirchen describes that on the site of the former synagogue, a building has been created that contains a large prayer room on the upper floor as well as rooms for children's and youth work, a community hall, a library, and offices. The New Synagogue was ceremonially inaugurated on February 1, 2007. The community itself emphasizes that the building presents itself in a completely new appearance and that visitors are welcome. Historically and symbolically, this is significant because a place of destruction has once again become a place of life. For visitors, this is not just information for a city walk but the actual core of the significance of this house: it stands for continuity despite rupture, for renewal despite loss, and for the visible return of Jewish life to the center of the city. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/stadtprofil/stadtgeschichten/erinnerungsorte/_doc/SynagogeCity_250x435_Endf.pdf))
Visits, tours, and events
Anyone who wants to see the Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen not just from the outside but truly understand it should pay attention to the visiting and tour offerings. According to its own website, the community offers individual tours through the synagogue and the historical meeting place. This is explicitly aimed at school classes and interested groups. Particularly interesting is that the tours do not have to follow a schematic route: Those interested in a specific topic of Judaism can communicate these wishes in advance so that the tour can address them. This is exactly what makes the location valuable for education, culture, and remembrance. The community thus shows that it is not only opening a space but also providing mediation work that connects history, religion, and present in an understandable way. For visitors, this is the best opportunity to ask questions directly on site and to get to know the house in the context of its tradition. ([jggelsenkirchen.de](https://jggelsenkirchen.de/besichtigung/))
The city of Gelsenkirchen also lists the New Synagogue as a cultural and event venue. It is described as a place of prayer, assembly, learning, and intense encounter. Not only tours are mentioned but also workshops, cooking classes, singing and dance classes, Hebrew courses, and lectures. Additionally, a variety of cultural events are offered that make areas of Jewish music, literature, and art visible. The city provides specific organizational details for the tours: The offerings are free of charge, a donation for children's and youth work is welcome, and registration is required. The tours are conducted with a minimum of three and a maximum of 30 people. This makes it clear that the visits are intentionally kept personal and manageable. This is an advantage for groups because the conversations can be calm, focused, and content-rich. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/kultur/kultur-_und_veranstaltungsorte/synagoge_gelsenkirchen/index.aspx))
Another important component of public perception is the exhibition history of the community. On the official website, the exhibition Jewish Life in Gelsenkirchen from 1870 to today is described, which was created in cooperation with the Institute for City History and the Society for Christian-Jewish Cooperation. The presentation uses biographical approaches and personal fates to make the history of the community tangible. This is precisely where the added value for visitors lies: The synagogue is not only a space for religious practice but also a place of storytelling and mediation. Therefore, those asking about a visit do not receive a mere architectural tour but access to city history, Jewish religion, and contemporary life. This makes the community particularly attractive for school projects, culture enthusiasts, and groups who want to experience content not only through reading but on site. ([jggelsenkirchen.de](https://jggelsenkirchen.de/))
Opening hours, address, and directions to Georgstraße 2
The practical orientation begins with the address: Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen K.d.ö.R., Georgstraße 2, 45879 Gelsenkirchen. This address appears on the community's website, in the imprint, and on the pages for visits and the New Synagogue. A phone number and an email address are provided as contact, which is particularly important for group inquiries and tours. The official opening hours listed on the website are Monday and Wednesday from 9 AM to 5 PM, as well as during services and events. Therefore, anyone planning a visit should not only expect a fixed building but also a vibrant community operation, whose times are oriented around prayer, events, and organized registration. This is helpful for planning because it shows that the synagogue is not a classic museum with identical daily opening hours but an active religious and communal place. ([jggelsenkirchen.de](https://jggelsenkirchen.de/))
Regarding directions, it is especially important to understand the location in the urban context. The city of Gelsenkirchen generally points out that there are numerous parking options in parking garages and on parking lots in Gelsenkirchen. However, the official pages of the community do not mention any dedicated parking spaces. Therefore, for specific planning with a car, the city's parking information is the most reliable orientation. Those coming by public transport benefit from the central location in the urban area, as Georgstraße is located in a well-connected area. Even without a specific route map on the community page, it can be said: The location is designed as an inner-city destination and is therefore fundamentally well integrated into the urban space. This is particularly practical for visitor groups who want to combine the visit with other stops in Gelsenkirchen. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/Infrastruktur/Verkehr/Rund_ums_Auto/Parken/index.aspx))
Additionally, the community ensures its accessibility not only through fixed times but also through contact options. Phone and email are visible on the website, as well as the note that visits to services and events are possible. This is an important point for inquiries about opening hours, address, or contact because many interested parties first want to know when and how a visit is meaningfully possible. The combination of a clear postal address, telephone accessibility, and open visitor information makes planning relatively simple. For a good travel recommendation, it is therefore not enough to only know the street; one should also check the purpose of the visit, whether it is for a tour, a service, an event, or a group tour. This distinction helps later on site because it shows the community for what it is: a place with various uses and not just a sight with a rigid process. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/))
Architecture, spaces, and what makes the house today
Architecturally, the New Synagogue Gelsenkirchen is intentionally functional and at the same time representative. The city describes that the building stands on the site of the former synagogue and contains, in addition to the large prayer room on the upper floor, rooms for children's and youth work, a community hall, a library, and offices. This mix makes the house a true community center. It is therefore not just a prayer room but a building with several levels of community life. This distinguishes it from a purely symbolic memorial site. The rooms serve specific functions: praying, learning, meeting, managing, teaching. For visitors, this is important because it helps to understand that the architecture has emerged directly from the needs of the community. It is a response to the grown everyday life of a vibrant community. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/stadtprofil/stadtgeschichten/erinnerungsorte/_doc/SynagogeCity_250x435_Endf.pdf))
The historical meeting place complements this picture. The city of Gelsenkirchen explains that the old prayer hall at Von-der-Recke-Straße 9, which was the center of religious life for almost 50 years, now serves as a meeting place with a small permanent exhibition. The original preserved prayer hall is also located there. The exhibition connects the new beginning of Jewish life after the Holocaust with the community that is now firmly integrated into the city. This is particularly valuable because one can experience post-war history in the original space. The prayer hall, with its simple furnishings and visible traces from the 1950s, forms a strong contrast to the new synagogue and shows how Jewish life in Gelsenkirchen has spatially developed. This interplay of old place and new building makes the community particularly exciting for those interested in history. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/Kultur/Museen_und_Dauerausstellungen/Alter_juedischer_Betsaal/index.aspx))
The community's self-description also fits this architecture. On its website, it describes itself as traditionally orthodox and at the same time open to visitors. It speaks of a completely new appearance and looks forward to encounters with one another. This language is revealing because it shows that the house is not to be understood as a closed sacred building but as a connecting space with clear rules and an open invitation. The combination of religious practice, educational work, exhibitions, and encounters is not an additional function here but the actual concept. Therefore, anyone looking for photos, impressions, or a better understanding of the location should read the house in this sense: not as a single building but as the spatial form of a community that knows its history and visibly shapes its future. ([jggelsenkirchen.de](https://jggelsenkirchen.de/neue-synagoge/))
Sources:
- Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen - Jewish Life & Synagogue
- Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen - New Synagogue
- Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen - Visits in our Synagogue
- City of Gelsenkirchen - Synagogue Gelsenkirchen
- City of Gelsenkirchen - Old Jewish Prayer Hall
- City of Gelsenkirchen - Synagogue Gelsenkirchen PDF
- City of Gelsenkirchen - Parking
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Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen | Photos & History
Anyone looking for photos, backgrounds, and specific visiting information about the Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen does not just land on a mere address, but rather at a place with a lot of history, present, and symbolism. The community at Georgstraße 2 stands on a historically significant site where the former synagogue was destroyed in 1938; in February 2007, the New Synagogue was inaugurated here. Today, the building presents itself as a vibrant center of Jewish life in Gelsenkirchen, a place of prayer, learning, encounter, and remembrance. The official website not only provides information about tours but also films, exhibition pages, and images that give a first visual impression. This is precisely why the interest in photos is so understandable: the building and the community cannot be grasped at a glance but reveal themselves through history, architecture, and the lived practice on site. ([jggelsenkirchen.de](https://jggelsenkirchen.de/neue-synagoge/))
This page consolidates the most important information in a way that is truly useful for visitors, families, school classes, groups, and culture-interested guests: What can be seen here? What is the history of the building? What offers are there for visits? When is the community accessible? And how does the location fit into the Jewish life of the city? The Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen describes itself as traditionally orthodox and currently has about 310 members. At the same time, it is open to interested parties and offers tours and events. Thus, the community is not only a religious place but also a place of mediation where one can connect the history of Jewish life in Gelsenkirchen with concrete spaces, faces, and impressions. ([jggelsenkirchen.de](https://jggelsenkirchen.de/neue-synagoge/))
Photos, first impressions, and visual orientation
The search term photos is particularly relevant for this location because the Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen works with images, film offerings, and exhibition content on its official pages. It is not just about a single beautiful motif but about visual orientation: What does the community center look like? How does the New Synagogue appear from the outside? How is the history told inside? The website offers film contributions about the history of the community, as well as an exhibition on Jewish life in Gelsenkirchen. The city of Gelsenkirchen complements this perspective with its own cultural page about the synagogue, describing the facility as a place of prayer, assembly, learning, and encounter. Those searching for photos usually want to see exactly this context: a building that is not museum-like but houses a vibrant community. ([jggelsenkirchen.de](https://jggelsenkirchen.de/))
Especially in the initial digital contact, images play a significant role because the synagogue and the community center are not only religious spaces but also places with a clear message. The community has consciously anchored a biblical verse on its building that emphasizes the open character and highlights the encounter with non-Jewish residents of Gelsenkirchen. In photos, this claim often becomes particularly clear: one sees not only architecture but also attitude. The official website also makes it clear that visitors are welcome, that tours are offered, and that the community understands itself as an open place. Therefore, images here are more than mere decoration. They help capture the character of the building, recognize the connection between past and present, and understand the atmosphere of a place that is simultaneously a refuge, a place of learning, and a meeting point. ([jggelsenkirchen.de](https://jggelsenkirchen.de/neue-synagoge/))
For good visual orientation, it is also worthwhile to look at the historical juxtaposition: The current synagogue stands where a destroyed building once stood, and this very location makes photos so meaningful. Exterior shots show the clear integration into the urban landscape, interior views refer to the function as a prayer room and community space, and exhibition images tell of the new beginning of Jewish life after 1945. On the city of Gelsenkirchen's page, the synagogue is also described as a place where Jewish life occurs in all its facets. Therefore, those who initially approach through photos quickly get the impression that here one sees neither a mere memorial backdrop nor a pure event space, but a community with religious, cultural, and historical depth. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/kultur/kultur-_und_veranstaltungsorte/synagoge_gelsenkirchen/index.aspx))
History and new beginning of Jewish life
The history of the Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen goes back a long way. The city of Gelsenkirchen reminds us that around 1830, the first Jewish families settled in the city and that a synagogue community was established in 1863. From a synagogue society founded in 1870, an independent Jewish community developed in 1874. The early community grew, increasingly organized itself independently, and had a synagogue built in 1884/85 according to plans by the Essen architect Peter Zindel. This historical development shows that Jewish life in Gelsenkirchen did not only become visible in the present but is deeply rooted in the city's history. The later destruction during the Reich Pogrom Night in 1938 marks the brutal break with which Jewish life was to be extinguished. The city explicitly states that the synagogue from 1884/85 was set on fire in November 1938 and subsequently demolished. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/stadtprofil/stadtgeschichten/erinnerungsorte/_doc/SynagogeCity_250x435_Endf.pdf))
The second major chapter of this history begins after 1945. Survivors around Kurt Neuwald reestablished the community; the city cites 1946 as the time of its renewed constitution. In 1957, the community settled at Von-der-Recke-Straße 9, where classrooms, offices, a library, and a community hall were housed. In 1958, a simple synagogue extension with about 80 seats was added in the courtyard. This phase is important because it shows the transition from a destroyed past to a cautious but determined reconstruction. The community later grew mainly through immigration from the former Soviet Union and its successor states. This development also shapes the current form of the community: It is historically deeply rooted, yet shaped by several layers of migration and memory. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/Kultur/Museen_und_Dauerausstellungen/Alter_juedischer_Betsaal/index.aspx))
The new building of the New Synagogue at the current location Georgstraße 2 was therefore much more than a construction project. The city of Gelsenkirchen describes that on the site of the former synagogue, a building has been created that contains a large prayer room on the upper floor as well as rooms for children's and youth work, a community hall, a library, and offices. The New Synagogue was ceremonially inaugurated on February 1, 2007. The community itself emphasizes that the building presents itself in a completely new appearance and that visitors are welcome. Historically and symbolically, this is significant because a place of destruction has once again become a place of life. For visitors, this is not just information for a city walk but the actual core of the significance of this house: it stands for continuity despite rupture, for renewal despite loss, and for the visible return of Jewish life to the center of the city. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/stadtprofil/stadtgeschichten/erinnerungsorte/_doc/SynagogeCity_250x435_Endf.pdf))
Visits, tours, and events
Anyone who wants to see the Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen not just from the outside but truly understand it should pay attention to the visiting and tour offerings. According to its own website, the community offers individual tours through the synagogue and the historical meeting place. This is explicitly aimed at school classes and interested groups. Particularly interesting is that the tours do not have to follow a schematic route: Those interested in a specific topic of Judaism can communicate these wishes in advance so that the tour can address them. This is exactly what makes the location valuable for education, culture, and remembrance. The community thus shows that it is not only opening a space but also providing mediation work that connects history, religion, and present in an understandable way. For visitors, this is the best opportunity to ask questions directly on site and to get to know the house in the context of its tradition. ([jggelsenkirchen.de](https://jggelsenkirchen.de/besichtigung/))
The city of Gelsenkirchen also lists the New Synagogue as a cultural and event venue. It is described as a place of prayer, assembly, learning, and intense encounter. Not only tours are mentioned but also workshops, cooking classes, singing and dance classes, Hebrew courses, and lectures. Additionally, a variety of cultural events are offered that make areas of Jewish music, literature, and art visible. The city provides specific organizational details for the tours: The offerings are free of charge, a donation for children's and youth work is welcome, and registration is required. The tours are conducted with a minimum of three and a maximum of 30 people. This makes it clear that the visits are intentionally kept personal and manageable. This is an advantage for groups because the conversations can be calm, focused, and content-rich. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/kultur/kultur-_und_veranstaltungsorte/synagoge_gelsenkirchen/index.aspx))
Another important component of public perception is the exhibition history of the community. On the official website, the exhibition Jewish Life in Gelsenkirchen from 1870 to today is described, which was created in cooperation with the Institute for City History and the Society for Christian-Jewish Cooperation. The presentation uses biographical approaches and personal fates to make the history of the community tangible. This is precisely where the added value for visitors lies: The synagogue is not only a space for religious practice but also a place of storytelling and mediation. Therefore, those asking about a visit do not receive a mere architectural tour but access to city history, Jewish religion, and contemporary life. This makes the community particularly attractive for school projects, culture enthusiasts, and groups who want to experience content not only through reading but on site. ([jggelsenkirchen.de](https://jggelsenkirchen.de/))
Opening hours, address, and directions to Georgstraße 2
The practical orientation begins with the address: Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen K.d.ö.R., Georgstraße 2, 45879 Gelsenkirchen. This address appears on the community's website, in the imprint, and on the pages for visits and the New Synagogue. A phone number and an email address are provided as contact, which is particularly important for group inquiries and tours. The official opening hours listed on the website are Monday and Wednesday from 9 AM to 5 PM, as well as during services and events. Therefore, anyone planning a visit should not only expect a fixed building but also a vibrant community operation, whose times are oriented around prayer, events, and organized registration. This is helpful for planning because it shows that the synagogue is not a classic museum with identical daily opening hours but an active religious and communal place. ([jggelsenkirchen.de](https://jggelsenkirchen.de/))
Regarding directions, it is especially important to understand the location in the urban context. The city of Gelsenkirchen generally points out that there are numerous parking options in parking garages and on parking lots in Gelsenkirchen. However, the official pages of the community do not mention any dedicated parking spaces. Therefore, for specific planning with a car, the city's parking information is the most reliable orientation. Those coming by public transport benefit from the central location in the urban area, as Georgstraße is located in a well-connected area. Even without a specific route map on the community page, it can be said: The location is designed as an inner-city destination and is therefore fundamentally well integrated into the urban space. This is particularly practical for visitor groups who want to combine the visit with other stops in Gelsenkirchen. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/Infrastruktur/Verkehr/Rund_ums_Auto/Parken/index.aspx))
Additionally, the community ensures its accessibility not only through fixed times but also through contact options. Phone and email are visible on the website, as well as the note that visits to services and events are possible. This is an important point for inquiries about opening hours, address, or contact because many interested parties first want to know when and how a visit is meaningfully possible. The combination of a clear postal address, telephone accessibility, and open visitor information makes planning relatively simple. For a good travel recommendation, it is therefore not enough to only know the street; one should also check the purpose of the visit, whether it is for a tour, a service, an event, or a group tour. This distinction helps later on site because it shows the community for what it is: a place with various uses and not just a sight with a rigid process. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/))
Architecture, spaces, and what makes the house today
Architecturally, the New Synagogue Gelsenkirchen is intentionally functional and at the same time representative. The city describes that the building stands on the site of the former synagogue and contains, in addition to the large prayer room on the upper floor, rooms for children's and youth work, a community hall, a library, and offices. This mix makes the house a true community center. It is therefore not just a prayer room but a building with several levels of community life. This distinguishes it from a purely symbolic memorial site. The rooms serve specific functions: praying, learning, meeting, managing, teaching. For visitors, this is important because it helps to understand that the architecture has emerged directly from the needs of the community. It is a response to the grown everyday life of a vibrant community. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/stadtprofil/stadtgeschichten/erinnerungsorte/_doc/SynagogeCity_250x435_Endf.pdf))
The historical meeting place complements this picture. The city of Gelsenkirchen explains that the old prayer hall at Von-der-Recke-Straße 9, which was the center of religious life for almost 50 years, now serves as a meeting place with a small permanent exhibition. The original preserved prayer hall is also located there. The exhibition connects the new beginning of Jewish life after the Holocaust with the community that is now firmly integrated into the city. This is particularly valuable because one can experience post-war history in the original space. The prayer hall, with its simple furnishings and visible traces from the 1950s, forms a strong contrast to the new synagogue and shows how Jewish life in Gelsenkirchen has spatially developed. This interplay of old place and new building makes the community particularly exciting for those interested in history. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/Kultur/Museen_und_Dauerausstellungen/Alter_juedischer_Betsaal/index.aspx))
The community's self-description also fits this architecture. On its website, it describes itself as traditionally orthodox and at the same time open to visitors. It speaks of a completely new appearance and looks forward to encounters with one another. This language is revealing because it shows that the house is not to be understood as a closed sacred building but as a connecting space with clear rules and an open invitation. The combination of religious practice, educational work, exhibitions, and encounters is not an additional function here but the actual concept. Therefore, anyone looking for photos, impressions, or a better understanding of the location should read the house in this sense: not as a single building but as the spatial form of a community that knows its history and visibly shapes its future. ([jggelsenkirchen.de](https://jggelsenkirchen.de/neue-synagoge/))
Sources:
- Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen - Jewish Life & Synagogue
- Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen - New Synagogue
- Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen - Visits in our Synagogue
- City of Gelsenkirchen - Synagogue Gelsenkirchen
- City of Gelsenkirchen - Old Jewish Prayer Hall
- City of Gelsenkirchen - Synagogue Gelsenkirchen PDF
- City of Gelsenkirchen - Parking
Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen | Photos & History
Anyone looking for photos, backgrounds, and specific visiting information about the Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen does not just land on a mere address, but rather at a place with a lot of history, present, and symbolism. The community at Georgstraße 2 stands on a historically significant site where the former synagogue was destroyed in 1938; in February 2007, the New Synagogue was inaugurated here. Today, the building presents itself as a vibrant center of Jewish life in Gelsenkirchen, a place of prayer, learning, encounter, and remembrance. The official website not only provides information about tours but also films, exhibition pages, and images that give a first visual impression. This is precisely why the interest in photos is so understandable: the building and the community cannot be grasped at a glance but reveal themselves through history, architecture, and the lived practice on site. ([jggelsenkirchen.de](https://jggelsenkirchen.de/neue-synagoge/))
This page consolidates the most important information in a way that is truly useful for visitors, families, school classes, groups, and culture-interested guests: What can be seen here? What is the history of the building? What offers are there for visits? When is the community accessible? And how does the location fit into the Jewish life of the city? The Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen describes itself as traditionally orthodox and currently has about 310 members. At the same time, it is open to interested parties and offers tours and events. Thus, the community is not only a religious place but also a place of mediation where one can connect the history of Jewish life in Gelsenkirchen with concrete spaces, faces, and impressions. ([jggelsenkirchen.de](https://jggelsenkirchen.de/neue-synagoge/))
Photos, first impressions, and visual orientation
The search term photos is particularly relevant for this location because the Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen works with images, film offerings, and exhibition content on its official pages. It is not just about a single beautiful motif but about visual orientation: What does the community center look like? How does the New Synagogue appear from the outside? How is the history told inside? The website offers film contributions about the history of the community, as well as an exhibition on Jewish life in Gelsenkirchen. The city of Gelsenkirchen complements this perspective with its own cultural page about the synagogue, describing the facility as a place of prayer, assembly, learning, and encounter. Those searching for photos usually want to see exactly this context: a building that is not museum-like but houses a vibrant community. ([jggelsenkirchen.de](https://jggelsenkirchen.de/))
Especially in the initial digital contact, images play a significant role because the synagogue and the community center are not only religious spaces but also places with a clear message. The community has consciously anchored a biblical verse on its building that emphasizes the open character and highlights the encounter with non-Jewish residents of Gelsenkirchen. In photos, this claim often becomes particularly clear: one sees not only architecture but also attitude. The official website also makes it clear that visitors are welcome, that tours are offered, and that the community understands itself as an open place. Therefore, images here are more than mere decoration. They help capture the character of the building, recognize the connection between past and present, and understand the atmosphere of a place that is simultaneously a refuge, a place of learning, and a meeting point. ([jggelsenkirchen.de](https://jggelsenkirchen.de/neue-synagoge/))
For good visual orientation, it is also worthwhile to look at the historical juxtaposition: The current synagogue stands where a destroyed building once stood, and this very location makes photos so meaningful. Exterior shots show the clear integration into the urban landscape, interior views refer to the function as a prayer room and community space, and exhibition images tell of the new beginning of Jewish life after 1945. On the city of Gelsenkirchen's page, the synagogue is also described as a place where Jewish life occurs in all its facets. Therefore, those who initially approach through photos quickly get the impression that here one sees neither a mere memorial backdrop nor a pure event space, but a community with religious, cultural, and historical depth. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/kultur/kultur-_und_veranstaltungsorte/synagoge_gelsenkirchen/index.aspx))
History and new beginning of Jewish life
The history of the Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen goes back a long way. The city of Gelsenkirchen reminds us that around 1830, the first Jewish families settled in the city and that a synagogue community was established in 1863. From a synagogue society founded in 1870, an independent Jewish community developed in 1874. The early community grew, increasingly organized itself independently, and had a synagogue built in 1884/85 according to plans by the Essen architect Peter Zindel. This historical development shows that Jewish life in Gelsenkirchen did not only become visible in the present but is deeply rooted in the city's history. The later destruction during the Reich Pogrom Night in 1938 marks the brutal break with which Jewish life was to be extinguished. The city explicitly states that the synagogue from 1884/85 was set on fire in November 1938 and subsequently demolished. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/stadtprofil/stadtgeschichten/erinnerungsorte/_doc/SynagogeCity_250x435_Endf.pdf))
The second major chapter of this history begins after 1945. Survivors around Kurt Neuwald reestablished the community; the city cites 1946 as the time of its renewed constitution. In 1957, the community settled at Von-der-Recke-Straße 9, where classrooms, offices, a library, and a community hall were housed. In 1958, a simple synagogue extension with about 80 seats was added in the courtyard. This phase is important because it shows the transition from a destroyed past to a cautious but determined reconstruction. The community later grew mainly through immigration from the former Soviet Union and its successor states. This development also shapes the current form of the community: It is historically deeply rooted, yet shaped by several layers of migration and memory. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/Kultur/Museen_und_Dauerausstellungen/Alter_juedischer_Betsaal/index.aspx))
The new building of the New Synagogue at the current location Georgstraße 2 was therefore much more than a construction project. The city of Gelsenkirchen describes that on the site of the former synagogue, a building has been created that contains a large prayer room on the upper floor as well as rooms for children's and youth work, a community hall, a library, and offices. The New Synagogue was ceremonially inaugurated on February 1, 2007. The community itself emphasizes that the building presents itself in a completely new appearance and that visitors are welcome. Historically and symbolically, this is significant because a place of destruction has once again become a place of life. For visitors, this is not just information for a city walk but the actual core of the significance of this house: it stands for continuity despite rupture, for renewal despite loss, and for the visible return of Jewish life to the center of the city. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/stadtprofil/stadtgeschichten/erinnerungsorte/_doc/SynagogeCity_250x435_Endf.pdf))
Visits, tours, and events
Anyone who wants to see the Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen not just from the outside but truly understand it should pay attention to the visiting and tour offerings. According to its own website, the community offers individual tours through the synagogue and the historical meeting place. This is explicitly aimed at school classes and interested groups. Particularly interesting is that the tours do not have to follow a schematic route: Those interested in a specific topic of Judaism can communicate these wishes in advance so that the tour can address them. This is exactly what makes the location valuable for education, culture, and remembrance. The community thus shows that it is not only opening a space but also providing mediation work that connects history, religion, and present in an understandable way. For visitors, this is the best opportunity to ask questions directly on site and to get to know the house in the context of its tradition. ([jggelsenkirchen.de](https://jggelsenkirchen.de/besichtigung/))
The city of Gelsenkirchen also lists the New Synagogue as a cultural and event venue. It is described as a place of prayer, assembly, learning, and intense encounter. Not only tours are mentioned but also workshops, cooking classes, singing and dance classes, Hebrew courses, and lectures. Additionally, a variety of cultural events are offered that make areas of Jewish music, literature, and art visible. The city provides specific organizational details for the tours: The offerings are free of charge, a donation for children's and youth work is welcome, and registration is required. The tours are conducted with a minimum of three and a maximum of 30 people. This makes it clear that the visits are intentionally kept personal and manageable. This is an advantage for groups because the conversations can be calm, focused, and content-rich. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/kultur/kultur-_und_veranstaltungsorte/synagoge_gelsenkirchen/index.aspx))
Another important component of public perception is the exhibition history of the community. On the official website, the exhibition Jewish Life in Gelsenkirchen from 1870 to today is described, which was created in cooperation with the Institute for City History and the Society for Christian-Jewish Cooperation. The presentation uses biographical approaches and personal fates to make the history of the community tangible. This is precisely where the added value for visitors lies: The synagogue is not only a space for religious practice but also a place of storytelling and mediation. Therefore, those asking about a visit do not receive a mere architectural tour but access to city history, Jewish religion, and contemporary life. This makes the community particularly attractive for school projects, culture enthusiasts, and groups who want to experience content not only through reading but on site. ([jggelsenkirchen.de](https://jggelsenkirchen.de/))
Opening hours, address, and directions to Georgstraße 2
The practical orientation begins with the address: Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen K.d.ö.R., Georgstraße 2, 45879 Gelsenkirchen. This address appears on the community's website, in the imprint, and on the pages for visits and the New Synagogue. A phone number and an email address are provided as contact, which is particularly important for group inquiries and tours. The official opening hours listed on the website are Monday and Wednesday from 9 AM to 5 PM, as well as during services and events. Therefore, anyone planning a visit should not only expect a fixed building but also a vibrant community operation, whose times are oriented around prayer, events, and organized registration. This is helpful for planning because it shows that the synagogue is not a classic museum with identical daily opening hours but an active religious and communal place. ([jggelsenkirchen.de](https://jggelsenkirchen.de/))
Regarding directions, it is especially important to understand the location in the urban context. The city of Gelsenkirchen generally points out that there are numerous parking options in parking garages and on parking lots in Gelsenkirchen. However, the official pages of the community do not mention any dedicated parking spaces. Therefore, for specific planning with a car, the city's parking information is the most reliable orientation. Those coming by public transport benefit from the central location in the urban area, as Georgstraße is located in a well-connected area. Even without a specific route map on the community page, it can be said: The location is designed as an inner-city destination and is therefore fundamentally well integrated into the urban space. This is particularly practical for visitor groups who want to combine the visit with other stops in Gelsenkirchen. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/Infrastruktur/Verkehr/Rund_ums_Auto/Parken/index.aspx))
Additionally, the community ensures its accessibility not only through fixed times but also through contact options. Phone and email are visible on the website, as well as the note that visits to services and events are possible. This is an important point for inquiries about opening hours, address, or contact because many interested parties first want to know when and how a visit is meaningfully possible. The combination of a clear postal address, telephone accessibility, and open visitor information makes planning relatively simple. For a good travel recommendation, it is therefore not enough to only know the street; one should also check the purpose of the visit, whether it is for a tour, a service, an event, or a group tour. This distinction helps later on site because it shows the community for what it is: a place with various uses and not just a sight with a rigid process. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/))
Architecture, spaces, and what makes the house today
Architecturally, the New Synagogue Gelsenkirchen is intentionally functional and at the same time representative. The city describes that the building stands on the site of the former synagogue and contains, in addition to the large prayer room on the upper floor, rooms for children's and youth work, a community hall, a library, and offices. This mix makes the house a true community center. It is therefore not just a prayer room but a building with several levels of community life. This distinguishes it from a purely symbolic memorial site. The rooms serve specific functions: praying, learning, meeting, managing, teaching. For visitors, this is important because it helps to understand that the architecture has emerged directly from the needs of the community. It is a response to the grown everyday life of a vibrant community. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/stadtprofil/stadtgeschichten/erinnerungsorte/_doc/SynagogeCity_250x435_Endf.pdf))
The historical meeting place complements this picture. The city of Gelsenkirchen explains that the old prayer hall at Von-der-Recke-Straße 9, which was the center of religious life for almost 50 years, now serves as a meeting place with a small permanent exhibition. The original preserved prayer hall is also located there. The exhibition connects the new beginning of Jewish life after the Holocaust with the community that is now firmly integrated into the city. This is particularly valuable because one can experience post-war history in the original space. The prayer hall, with its simple furnishings and visible traces from the 1950s, forms a strong contrast to the new synagogue and shows how Jewish life in Gelsenkirchen has spatially developed. This interplay of old place and new building makes the community particularly exciting for those interested in history. ([gelsenkirchen.de](https://www.gelsenkirchen.de/de/Kultur/Museen_und_Dauerausstellungen/Alter_juedischer_Betsaal/index.aspx))
The community's self-description also fits this architecture. On its website, it describes itself as traditionally orthodox and at the same time open to visitors. It speaks of a completely new appearance and looks forward to encounters with one another. This language is revealing because it shows that the house is not to be understood as a closed sacred building but as a connecting space with clear rules and an open invitation. The combination of religious practice, educational work, exhibitions, and encounters is not an additional function here but the actual concept. Therefore, anyone looking for photos, impressions, or a better understanding of the location should read the house in this sense: not as a single building but as the spatial form of a community that knows its history and visibly shapes its future. ([jggelsenkirchen.de](https://jggelsenkirchen.de/neue-synagoge/))
Sources:
- Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen - Jewish Life & Synagogue
- Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen - New Synagogue
- Jewish Community Gelsenkirchen - Visits in our Synagogue
- City of Gelsenkirchen - Synagogue Gelsenkirchen
- City of Gelsenkirchen - Old Jewish Prayer Hall
- City of Gelsenkirchen - Synagogue Gelsenkirchen PDF
- City of Gelsenkirchen - Parking
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Reviews
Sebastian Langkrär
1. November 2025
I was physically attacked after hours by the community caretaker, who illegally used the community's surveillance cameras to stalk first his ex-wife and then me. He later claimed to the police that I had racially insulted him. Thank goodness there were witnesses who could prove otherwise. What's even more concerning is that the man is still employed there. So, nothing is being done about it.
Christiane
30. July 2024
I can only agree with that. We felt very comfortable and would love to come back. Thank you so much for the warm welcome and the wonderful evening!!!
Juli Sarbogardy
12. February 2024
Contrary to some previous speakers here, I want to emphasize that no one is "unfriendly" in the synagogue and Jewish community of Gelsenkirchen. On the contrary. There is also no "oppressive" atmosphere. I have experienced tours here with my students, participated in Jewish services, and a few years ago in a wonderful and musically high-quality choir project, which culminated in a performance of our Israeli and Yiddish songs. I have seen and heard a lot of interesting things at this place and thoroughly enjoyed authentic music under competent choir direction. Anytime again, and if there’s another opportunity to sing in a Jewish choir in Gelsenkirchen, I’m in right away, thinking of my Jewish great-grandmother Zsuzsanna Rothermel from Hungary. I can warmly recommend a visit and contact with the friendly Jewish community and synagogue in Gelsenkirchen to everyone.
sarbogardy
13. December 2019
It’s incomprehensible that a reviewer expresses in a provocative tone, "One should be welcome in places of worship [sic], but unfortunately not here." I have been a guest at the synagogue for many years, attending courses, choir rehearsals, lectures, and celebrations. They are always happy to see visitors and guests. However, prior registration is often necessary, which should correspond to security-related aspects in these concerning times.
Erika Lieber
18. June 2026
Interesting architecture.