The first Jews to settle in Hamburg were Marranos from Spain and Portugal in the late 1500s. Ashkenazic Jews followed in the early 1600s. Ultimately, Jews became an important part of the Hamburg economy. At the start of World War I, 132 of the city's 670 millionaires were Jewish. By 1933, the Jewish community was the fourth largest in Germany, with about 20,000 persons (1.7% of the total population). Most Jews had emigrated by the start of the war. It is estimated that 7,800 Hamburg Jews perished during the Nazi rule.
The postcard below depicts the New Central Synagogue at Bornplatz dedicated in 1906. The synagogue was designed by S. Engel. After Kristallnacht, the synagogue was closed down.
Spector, The Encyclopedia of Jewish Life Before and During the Holocaust, P. 329-331
Encyclopedia Judaica, CD-Rom Edition, Keter Publishing
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=163&letter=H
Museum of Tolerance On LIne Learning Center
Copyright ©2003 Edward Victor