Speyer's Jewish heritage: a story of the Schum cities unveiled!

Speyer's Jewish heritage: a story of the Schum cities unveiled!

The city of Speyer, famous for its impressive historical sites, has once again approached the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Like Rheinpfalz are reported in discussions about the construction of a new visitor center. This should not only lead the flow of visitors to the UNESCO World Heritals, but also underline the relevance and history of Speyer.

The visitor center will play an important role in conveying the stories of the two world sites in Speyer: the majestic cathedral and the historic Jewish courtyard. Both sites represent the long and significant Jewish history of the city, which was included in the renowned world heritage in 2021.

The Schum cities as a cultural heritage

On July 27, 2021, the Schum cities of Speyer, Worms and Mainz were appointed UNESCO World Heritage site. Speyer can boast of being the first city in Rhineland-Palatinate with two world sites. The Cathedral of Speyer is not only an architectural masterpiece, but also a symbol of religious tolerance. The Jewish courtyard, on the other hand, houses the oldest upright Jewish cult buildings in Central Europe.

The ruins of the Speyer Synagogue is considered the oldest Jewish cult building in Central Europe from the Middle Ages. The associated Jewish ritual bath, known as Mikwe, is dated 1126 and is one of the oldest preserved Mikwen. Bishop Rüdiger Huzmann had already settled in 1084 Jews near the cathedral and granted them privileges, which favored the cultural and economic development of the Jewish community.

The Jewishhof developed into the center of the Jewish settlement and included both men and women's synagogues and the mikwe. Here the Jewish parishioners were active in long -distance trade and banking and had far -reaching connections to Jewish communities in southern Europe and the Middle East.

a legacy of cooperation

The Jewish communities of Speyer, Mainz and Worms formed an important covenant in the Middle Ages, which was known as "Schum" and presented a significant authority in legal and religious issues. The recognition of the tombstones in the monument cemetery in Mainz and the Jewish cemetery of Heiliger Sand in Worms as part of the world heritage illustrates the outstanding importance of these communities.

Overall, the three Schum cities were a center of Central European Jewish culture and theology, which still exerts influence today. The efforts to build a visitor center in Speyer are a testimony to the city's commitment to maintain and promote this unique cultural heritage.

For more information about the historical sites and the surrounding environment, please visit the official side of the cathedral at dom-zu-speyer.de .