Maastricht
The first reports of Jews residing in Maastricht date to the
thirteenth century. The city's Jewish community subsequently was
destroyed during the first half of the fourteenth century following
persecution of Jews throughout the region.
Prior to the introduction of full civil rights for the Jews of the
Netherlands in 1796, the city fathers of Maastricht granted
residence only to those Jews whose presence they felt would be
economically advantageous. Jews not deemed important were compelled
to reside outside of Maastricht in the nearby village of Eijsden. Nevertheless,
by 1782, the number of Jews in Maastricht had risen to the point
that the city's first public synagogue service was held in a
private residence located on the Markt. With the arrival of
Napoleonic rule in 1794 the Jewish community of Maastricht was
granted official recognition. Jews also were given permission to
hold religious services in a private residence located behind
Maastricht's city hall, between the Hoenderstraat and the
Koeslingestraat.
With the arrival of the nineteenth century, the Jewish population
of Maastricht quickly grew almost ten-fold. By 1809, a larger place
of worship was required and the community rented space for a new
synagogue in a building on the Kleine Gracht. Most of the Jews in
Maastricht lived in close proximity to this synagogue.
The Jews of Maastricht had close ties to Jewish
communities across the nearby Dutch-German border. Under Napoleonic
rule, the Maastricht community was placed under the aegis of the
Jewish community of the German town of Krefeld. With the
reorganization of the Jewish communities of the Netherlands during
the 1820's, Maastricht was selected as the seat of the chief rabbi
for the provinces of Limburg, Louvain and Luxemburg, and the city
Brussels (the latter three being under Dutch rule at the time).
Until 1860, troubled economic circumstances combined with the
ultra-orthodox stance of the chief rabbinate led to a series of
short incumbencies and frequent replacements of chief rabbis. This
situation was addressed in 1861 by the adoption of a more modern
charter for the community replacing its original charter which
dated to 1816.
In 1839, work commenced on the construction of an imposing new
synagogue complex in the Capucijnengang near the Bogaardenstraat.
Construction of the complex was financed in part by donations from
the city of Maastricht, the national government of the Netherlands,
and the country's King, Willem I. The complex - consisting of the
synagogue, a ritual bath, a sexton's residence, and new quarters
for the community's school (originally founded in 1833) - was
completed and consecrated in August, 1840.
In 1821, the Jewish community of Maastricht founded a cemetery
along the Tongerseweg in the village of Wolder. Previously, the
Jews of Maastricht buried their dead at the cemetery at the
Maagdendries.
During the late nineteenth century, the infrastructure of Jewish
life in Maastricht was officially headed by a community directorate
and council. Voluntary organizations included an association for
aid to the poor, a women's society for aid to needy expectant
mothers, a society for assisting travelers, and a society for
visiting the sick and organizing remembrance services for the dead.
At the time, the majority of the Jews of Maastricht were involved
in trade or the retail sector; many others were craftsmen or small
manufacturers.
By the outset of the twentieth century, Jewish community
membership in Maastricht and throughout the province of Limburg
took a steep downward turn. Regardless, the Maastricht community
remained substantial in size. Between 1900 and 1940, several new
Jewish organizations were formed in Maastricht including a social
club, a burial society, and a youth club. During the 1930's the
community was strengthened by the arrival in Maastricht of Jewish
refugees from Germany and Eastern Europe. Even as late as the
outset of the German occupation of the Netherlands during the
Second World War a new Zionist youth group was formed in
Maastricht.
During the early stages of the German occupation, the Jews of
Maastricht enjoyed the protection of the local police and a part of
the general public. However, in September, 1941 Jewish children
were expelled from public schools and a Jewish elementary school
established. From June, 1942 through April, 1943 the majority of
the Jews of Maastricht were apprehended, deported, and subsequently
murdered. A number of Jews from the north of the Netherlands
managed to find hiding places in the surroundings of Maastricht.
One group of Jews that managed to flee from Maastricht across the
border into Belgium was later betrayed and apprehended.
The Maastricht synagogue was vandalized during the occupation and
used as a storage place. Its furnishings were heavily damaged but a
portion of its ceremonial objects were saved. In 1965, it was
discovered that the community's archives also had been saved.
Jewish life in Maastricht resumed following the war. The synagogue
was rededicated in 1952. It was restored during the 1960's, and
refurnished with furniture formerly belonging to the synagogue at
Meerssen. In 1990, a plaque was unveiled in commemoration of the
150th anniversary of the Maastricht synagogue. Maastricht's Jewish
cemetery was restored by volunteers in 1996. In October 2005
a plaque was unveiled on the Jewish cemetery in Maastricht, in
remembrance of the 45 Jewish children who perished in the
Second World War.
In 1986, the Jewish communities of Maastricht, Heerlen, and Roermond merged to
form the regional community NIHS Limburg. Yaakov Shapiro has served
as rabbi of the community since 2001.
Jewish population of Maastricht and surroundings:
| 1782 | 8 |
| 1794 | 22 |
| 1809 | 207 |
| 1840 | 375 |
| 1869 | 429 |
| 1899 | 405 |
| 1930 | 247 |
| 1951 | 115 |
| 1998 | members NIG Limburg: 61 |
Collectie en mediatheek
Orde van dienst
1967-09-24
Orde van dienst tgv de herinwijding van de synagoge
in Maastricht op zondag 24 september 1967.
Collectie > Documenten > 00009939
meer treffers in Collectie > Documenten
Penning
1841
De penning werd in juni 1841 door een afvaardiging uit de Joodse Gemeente
tijdens een audientie aan Willem II aangeboden.
Collectie > Museumstukken > 00359
meer treffers in Collectie > Museumstukken
Krantenknipsel
1944
Krantenknipsel uit de New York Times met foto van Amerikaanse
soldaten in de synagoge in Maastricht, 1944.
Collectie > Fotos > 40007604
meer treffers in Collectie > Fotos
[Binnenlandse berichten (2)] : Haarlem
1868
De joodse gemeente te Haarlem maakt zich zorgen over het gerucht dat haar voorzanger
in Maastricht zou hebben gesolliciteerd. / Zangvereniging "Oefening en Genoegen ...
Collectie > Joodse pers > 20016036
meer treffers in Collectie > Joodse pers
De synagoge van Maastricht en de synagogen elders in Limburg
1967
De synagoge van Maastricht en de synagogen elders in Limburg.
Collectie > Literatuur > 12003075
meer treffers in Collectie > Literatuur
Het spoor terug : De Mediene (deel 3)
Deel 3 van een 5-delige radiouitzending over het joodse leven in de provincie
van voor de Tweede Wereldoorlog. In deze aflevering Maastricht.
Collectie > Audiovisueel > 10000404
