Jews were already living in Essen in the Middle Ages. The city's existing restrictions long prevented the development of the Jewish community. It was not until the 19th century – and especially at the beginning of the 20th century – that there was a significant increase in the Jewish population. In 1880, there were 1,053 Jews living there, and in 1932, there were 5,045. The first mention of a local synagogue dates back to 1683. The new synagogue was built in 1913 according to the design of the renowned German architect Edmund Körner (1874-1940). The interior was completely destroyed during Kristallnacht in November 1938. The surviving building, located in the city centre at 29 Steller Street (Steller Strasse 29), escaped the ravages of war (https://www.kuladig.de/Objektansicht/O-FJK-20100726-0001, accessed on 8 April 2021).
The new synagogue in Essen caused a sensation throughout Germany due to its use of modern solutions, functionality, and spatial effect. It became a symbol of the city and a frequent motif on postcards. The postcard in the collection of the District Museum in Leszno depicts the "fountain of the century", the monumental synagogue building, and the connected rabbi's house. The temple is an impressive, multi-part central structure made of light-colored limestone, topped with weathered copper domes. In the upper right corner of the postcard is the inscription: "Essen. Synagogue and fountain of the century." On the reverse side, in the lower left corner, the publishing address reads: "Publishing house A.P. & E.", and at the top right edge, there is the imprint: "Postcard". The postmark indicates that the postcard was sent on 30 March 1917, and the addressee was Emmi Bolz from Bernburg on the Saale river.
The surviving descriptions of the synagogue show that the coloured panes of glass in the spacious vestibule already created a unique atmosphere. The stained glass windows in the main hall, vaulted with a 30-metre wide dome, were dedicated to Jewish holidays and featured various symbols and decorations. One of the main factors determining the exceptional interior arrangement was its colour scheme. It is believed that, unlike many other synagogues in Germany, this place of worship was perfectly integrated into the cityscape (H. Eschwege, Die Synagoge in der deutschen Geschichte, Dresden 1980, pp. 46, 141).
The postcard was purchased for the collection of the Leszno Museum in 2011 from Marta Pogoreło of Leszno.
Dariusz Czwojdrak
