The history of the Danzig Jewish community will be told in an exhibition to open at The Jewish Museum on March 26. Ceremonial objects’ from the great synagogue (demolished by the Nazis) and private collections, as well as documents, photographs and audio-visual materials relate the story of a once thriving, cultured, German-East European Jewish community which is no more.
In December, 1938, the Nazis informed the Danzig Jewish community that their synagogue was scheduled for demolition, that their property (which included the Jewish cemetery) must be sold, and that all Jews must prepare to emigrate. Proceeds of the sale of this communal property were used to finance the emigration of those still permitted to leave.
In May, 1939, the elders of the Jewish community gathered together ceremonial objects used in the great synagogue (which incorporated several earlier synagogues), the special collection of Judaica which had been housed therein (gift of the prominent art collector, Lesser Gieldzinski, on his 7th birthday in 1904), and precious heirlooms from private families.
With the help of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, negotiations were completed with the Danzig Police Department — “For a certain sum of money which presumably would also help expedite the emigration of Jews from Danzig–(the police) permitted the export of these objects to the United States,” it was recalled by a spokesman for the Jewish Museum. In July, 1939 10 crates containing over 500 examples of Judaica were delivered to The Jewish Theological Seminary of America.
The understanding was that if, at the end of 15 years there remained a Jewish community in Danzig, these treasures would be returned. If not, the valuables would stay in this country “for the inspiration and education of the rest of the world.” In August, 1939 the German army marched into Danzig. Meanwhile, Jews continued to flee to Poland, Palestine, the Soviet Union, or whichever country would accept them or in which they could find a haven.
One hundred thirty-four silver, gold, bronze and brass ceremonial objects and textiles along with Torah crowns, Torah shields, rimmonim, seder plates, menorahs, aims boxes, spice boxes, Kiddush cups, prayer books and Torah ark curtains will be shown to the general public for the first time since leaving Danzig.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
