Our new, old home!

The reconstruction of the Bornplatz Synagogue is taking shape. The project is currently in the decisive phase of the architectural competition, which will decide on the future appearance of the new synagogue.

The competition was officially announced last year. This was preceded by careful planning work by a commission of representatives from the Senate Chancellery, the Urban Development Office, the Eimsbüttel District Office and with the support of the police and fire department. In close coordination with the Jewish Community of Hamburg, guidelines, historical references and urban planning framework conditions were formulated, which now form the basis for participation in the competition.

The Jewish Community and the Bornplatz Synagogue Foundation play a central role in this. The Jewish community is represented, among other things, by board members and expert advisors. The needs and wishes of Hamburg's Jews were already part of the extensive feasibility study, which examined, among other things, the structural, social, security and financial feasibility. In doing so, the municipality and foundation have formulated clear essentials:

1. Reconstruction is historically necessary in order to symbolically and physically return the Bornplatz Synagogue, which was destroyed during the Nazi era and subsequently expropriated, to the Jewish community.

2. A complete reconstruction is not sought, but a very close connection to the external design of the destroyed synagogue, such as the distinctive main portal, is desired.

3. The new synagogue will be open — also for the district. In addition to the prayer rooms, public areas such as a café, a bookstore and function rooms are planned.

4. The building project should reflect the diversity of Jewish life — from traditional Orthodox to progressive. Among other things, an additional building with a prayer room for liberal Judaism as well as administrative, educational and meeting functions are planned for this purpose.

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The architecture competition is supported by the Bornplatz Synagogue Foundation, the Central Council of Jews in Germany and political representatives from the Hamburg Senate and District Parliament. The jury consists of architects, municipal representatives, board of trustees, representatives of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, and political decision makers.

The jury met in May, chaired by Prof. Diener. In an anonymized process — the authors of the designs were unknown to the jury members — a single-digit number of contributions were selected from 25 submitted works for the final round. The final decision is expected in September.

The public is involved: A public presentation of all submitted designs is to take place this fall — presumably in September or October. Interested citizens, community members and experts are then invited to make up their own mind about the future of Bornplatz.

The reconstruction of the Bornplatz Synagogue is more than just a building project: it is a commitment to the past, present and future of Jewish life in Hamburg.