The Jewish cemetery in Schleusingen

The history of its origin

Before 1710 this area was called "Pulvergrund" or "in der Hell" because there was a powder mill here which exploded in 1656 when the powder was dried. After that it was no longer used, as there was nothing left but stone debris.
In 1710 the Jews who had come to Schleusingen in 1704 received permission to build a Jewish cemetery here. There were ten Jewish families who settled here. The Duke granted Samuel Bochheimer, the court Jew from Zell, the privilege of doing business with nine other Schutzjuden families with tobacco, salt and money exchange.

This is the name given to the valley today by "Judengrund".

To the structure

On about 1300 square meters there are 108 gravestones. The cemetery is divided into an old and a new part (see legend). The oldest grave is seen from the entrance in the last row of the old part on the far right. They were buried from right to left according to the Semitic spelling. The original position of some gravestones can no longer be determined due to desecration. They therefore stand at the wall. Smaller graves are mainly graves of children. In front of the cemetery there is a memorial stone, which was inaugurated in 1997 by the chairman of the Jewish community of Thuringia, Mr. Nossen.

Insights into symbolism

We find among others the following symbolism:

1. the blessing hands of the Kohanim as a symbol of protection and family
2. the can or bowl for Levite graves
3. the sun with face for happiness
4. Wine grapes for a successful life
5. the upside-down flower as a sign of transience and death
6. the butterfly for transience
7. the Star of David
8. the palm fronds
9. the eye of God
10. the book for scholarship

Special features of the gravestones

Gravestones of members of a family often have the same symbolism or the same introductory text or the same form of gravestone.

To new splendour

For a long time the Jewish cemetery was in an unkempt and neglected state. The Jewish cemetery was awakened to new splendour by young committed pupils. The whole story with pictures and newspaper articles can be read on the following page.

Old part

New part