Fotos: Karl-Heinz Stadtler

This Torah scroll is not complete. For a time, it was kept in a Christian institution in Jerusalem. An accompanying letter states that a German soldier rescued the scroll from the burning synagogue in Vitebsk (Belarus) and brought it to Germany.
Wood, parchment, 65x8.5cm. Donated by Mrs Schöneweiß from Vöhl-Obernburg.

Foto: Karl-Heinz Stadtler

The Torah is a handwritten parchment scroll - sometimes also made of goatskin - containing the Hebrew text of the five books of Moses. A Torah scroll is read from in Jewish services, with the passage for that week being read each week.

A Torah scroll for use in religious services is always written by hand. It is part of the basic equipment of every synagogue.

The scroll is rolled up on two sticks; the ends are held together from time to time by the so-called pennant, made from a circumcision nappy. It is wrapped in an elaborately embroidered cloak and crowned with a crown.

The scroll on display here is not complete. It begins with the 2nd Book of Moses, chapter 9, verse 13, and the parchment is still 9 metres long.

It comes from an antiquarian bookshop in Wroclaw (Breslau), Poland. Wood, parchment, 95x15cm each side

It was donated to the Förderkreis by a Marburg museum that no longer exists. It was handed over by Dr Helge-Ulrike Hyams.

Foto: ©Kurt-Willi Julius
The prayer room has a monastery vault, which is not visible from the outside. Its four sides are cut-outs from a barrel vault.

Foto: ©Kurt-Willi JuliusThe starry ceiling of the synagogue, with the stylized sun as its decorative centerpiece, has been largely preserved in its original form. Some boards have been replaced. The structure is similar to that of the cross vault but with an additional centre strut. See the article: Bilder der Renovierung 2003.The damaged boards served as the basis for works of art. See the article: Kunst-Ausstellung Sternenbretter, 2005 und 2007.

Foto: ©Kurt-Willi Julius
Some of the stars were glued on and later painted over again.

Foto: ©Kurt-Willi Julius
Vaulted construction in the attic with suspension before insulation material is laid. See the article: Bilder der Renovierung 2003.

Foto: Berthold Herberz

The glass of both sconces was broken. As there were identical lights in the Protestant church in Vöhl, the glasses were donated to the synagogue after the church was renovated. Wooden base, brass, glass, 45 x 15cm.

Foto: Kurt-Willi Julius

The different colouring on the south-east wall of the synagogue indicates the location of the Torah shrine. The colouring dates from the time of the destruction of the interior. The Videos: Rekonstruktion der Inneneinrichtung 2021a and Rekonstruktion der Inneneinrichtung 2021b show the synagogue with Torah shrine.

Foto: Kurt-Willi Julius

The gallery in 2006 shortly after the completed renovation. It was reserved for the women of the congregation. Here in Vöhl, the gallery opened up to the Torah shrine. As women were not allowed to be in the immediate vicinity of the Torah, the boys who were about to perform their bar mitzvah sat in these two ends of the gallery, according to former members of the congregation.

Foto: Karl-Heinz Stadtler

Part of the screen for the women's gallery in the prayer room with the original colour scheme. The room was painted a much darker colour in the first decades after the synagogue was consecrated. As can be seen here on a pillar, the pillars of the gallery were without panelling at the time of construction. This was added later.

Foto: Kurt-Willi Julius
The seat numbers for the seats in the gallery are still available.

Foto: Karl-Heinz Stadtler
Contemporary Zedakah box. Gift, wood, sheet metal, 15x17x10cm

Zedaka is the Jewish commandment of charity. Perhaps this hand is the opening of a donation box, a Zedaka box, which was used during the Sabbath celebration. They can be found in many synagogues and at the entrances to cemeteries and cemetery halls. It is also customary to put a donation in the box after a funeral.

Fotos: Berthold Herberz

Zohar (translated: The Book of Splendour), Hebrew, Vilnus (Lithuania), 1882, embossed leather binding mended with cotton thread, complete, 24x17x5cm, origin unknown.

The  Zohar is the most important book of Jewish mysticism, the Kabbalah. It is an interpretation and commentary. Here is the 2nd part of a five-volume work: 2nd Book of Moses ‘Exodus’. Schimon ben Jochai is named as the author. This attribution is no longer valid today. Today the author is Mosche de Leon.

The Zohar uses four levels of understanding for biblical interpretation,

• the literal text ( hebr. pshat)
• the figurative, allegorical meaning ( hebr. remez)
• the meaning in life ( Hebrew drash)
• the mystical, mysterious meaning ( hebr. sod)

The first letters of these four Hebrew words form the term ‘PaRDeS’ (‘orchard’, related to the German word ‘Paradies’).

It is written in Hebrew script in an artificially ancient Aramaic to emphasise its age and meaning. A book for experts; it is not suitable for everyday prayers.

The owner is inscribed on the back of the cover: ‘Jacob Dahan, son of Lehasisan’. The name comes from the southern Mediterranean region. It is unclear whether the book is part of the genizah.

All information has been compiled with the kind assistance of Mr Beni Pollak, teacher of the Landesverbandes der Jüdischen Gemeinden in Hesse.

Other books on Judaism in the museum: