English Edition: The Reichenbach - A "Bauhaus"-Synagogue

The synagogue on Reichenbachstraße in Munich, known as “Die Reichenbach”, is one of the most valuable and rare testimonies of Jewish history. As the last synagogue built in Germany before the National Socialist era, it was designed in 1931 by Gustav Meyerstein (1889–1975) in the spirit of Bauhaus modernism and fascinated contemporaries, not least because of its unique color effects.

During the Reichspogromnacht (Night of Broken Glass) from November 9 to 10, 1938, the synagogue was devastated and destroyed. After the war, it was only provisionally restored and served as the religious center of the Munich Jewish community until 2006. Initiated by Rachel Salamander, the restoration of its original, aesthetically captivating design has been carried out in recent years with great dedication by the Synagogue Reichenbachstraße Association and will reach its spectacular completion by the end of 2025.

The synagogue is intended not only to continue serving as a house of worship but also to be accessible to the wider public through educational programs and various activities. For the Torah ark curtain, a handwoven original fabric was donated by Ariel Aloni, the grandson of the Bauhaus master Gunta Stölzl, who was born in Munich. In this way, one of the pioneering Bauhaus artists returns to her birthplace and to a globally unique synagogue.

This compact, richly illustrated volume is devoted to the art-historical significance of the synagogue as well as its history and architectural design.