Life_under_Siege_The_Jews_of_Magdeburg_under_Nazi_Rule.pdf

Not atypically, Hemmi Freeman’s family, who originated from Eastern Europe
but had lived in Magdeburg since before World War One, had adopted the liberal
form of Judaism and belonged to the Synagogen-Gemeinde. Interestingly though,
the family maintained a kosher home and lived according to modern Orthodox
tradition. This typical pattern of acculturation in Jewish communities in Germany
was also evident in this small community and indicative of the religious pluralism
within the Synagogen-Gemeinde itself.
In 1923 five paid employees of the Synagogen-Gemeinde were listed with
their positions: Dr Georg Wilde as rabbi, Max (Meier) Teller as cantor and
teacher, Meyer Steinhardt as teacher, Samuel Nußbaum as sexton and Max
Arensberg as Shochet. 21 As testimony to the stability of this small, but, thriving
congregation, both the positions on the synagogue board and those of the paid
employees of the synagogue remained constant with only minor changes until the
issuing of the synagogue’s budget for the year 1936–1937. 22 In assessing the
synagogue’s budgets for the years from and including 1933 until 1937, 23 the
Synagogen-Gemeinde employed between seven and nine staff, including those
already mentioned, and office staff. Most staff changes occurred due to retirement,
followed in the latter years by emigration. The number of retired staff members
varied between four and six members per year. All drew a pension from the
Synagogen-Gemeinde.
The Synagogen-Gemeinde possessed a sizeable amount of real estate allocated
to various functions for the entire community. The congregation’s administrative
21
Spanier, op. cit., p. 46.
22
Synagogen-Gemeinde zu Magdeburg Haushaltsplan für 1936/1937, Bestand Rep. A
II, Signatur Nr. 2478 J 13a, Band 7, Stadtarchiv Magdeburg, Magdeburg (STAM).
23
Synagogen-Gemeinde zu Magdeburg Haushaltsplan für 1933/1934, 1934/1935,
1935/1936, 1936/1937, ibid.
24