Commitment to Remembrance and Education in the Hechingen Synagogue
As part of her Network Israel fellowship, Meirav Meidan dedicated herself to the work of the Old Synagogue in Hechingen. Together with the local initiative, she revised the exhibition on Jewish history and led workshops on the current situation in Israel and about antisemitism.
Meirav Meidan is a scholar of Jewish Studies and teaches Jewish philosophy, mysticism (Kabbalah), and feminist perspectives on Jewish tradition. She teaches in Beit Midrash institutions, traditional Jewish study spaces, open to both religious and secular participants.
To Meirav, the Old Synagogue is more than a historical site, it is home. It’s where she meets friends, studies, and teaches. It’s a place she continually returns to. Her connection to Hechingen began years ago and was rekindled through the fellowship.
The history of the synagogue in Hechingen dates back centuries: as early as 1767, a new synagogue was built on this site. A Jewish community had existed in Hechingen since the 16th century. During the Nazi era, the synagogue’s interior was completely destroyed. After the war, the Jewish community in Hechingen ceased to exist, only a few Jewish residents survived the Shoah, some in exile, others locally.
“This space, now empty and desolate, bears silent witness to the murder, destruction, and devastation that was done in this holy place. It is a space where silence speaks. “, Meirav describes the atmosphere.
In the early 1970s, J. Anthony Gray and Henry Hofheimer, both originally from Hechingen and exiled in 1938, tried in vain to preserve the synagogue as a memorial. Only in 1979 did a group of committed citizens form the Hechingen Synagogue Initiative. Three years later, they were able to purchase the dilapidated building and began renovations. In the attic, they discovered a genizah, an archive for used religious texts. In 1986, the restored synagogue was reopened as a memorial and place for encounters.
Meirav Meidan, all rights reserved
Impressions and Experiences
Meirav describes the synagogue today in the following words: „The building of the synagogue is now complete, and its beauty is breathtaking. Standing in its hall beneath a painted dome of sky with stars one feels the majesty and splendor that are part of the experience of being in the house of God. when you look at the delicate painted walls or read the quotes in Hebrew you cannot help but feel calm. “
Today, the Old Synagogue is a vibrant space for cultural and interfaith exchange. Around 100 members are actively involved. Meirav continues to return, visiting friends, sharing the place with her family, and initiating new projects and events. She teaches, develops educational formats, and brings her perspective from Israel into the work.
The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted her visits to Germany. Two years later, she planned her return with a new project idea: a seminar on the four elements.
October 7, 2023, marked a turning point –both for Meirav’s situation in Israel and her connection to Hechingen. Meirav describes how she felt thrown back into one of the darkest periods in Israeli history.
For the first time, she hesitated to travel to Germany: „for the first time, I was afraid to return to Germany—not necessarily for my own safety, but because I was worried about the atmosphere regarding Israel. Would people be willing to see our suffering? Would criticism of Israel become mixed with the new antisemitism, blocking any possibility of dialogue? ”
Her planned project had to be postponed again. Thanks to the Network Israel fellowship, supported by the Foundation Remembrance, Responsibility and Future, Meirav was able to travel to Germany in May 2025 for the first time since October 7.
Returning to Hechingen gave her confidence. She was relieved to find friends and partners still present.
She was relieved to find friends and partners still present. Despite differing opinions, she encountered understanding and solidarity: „In the synagogue committee of Hechingen, we asked ourselves: Is it our role these days to show solidarity with Jews in Israel, or should we also strive to make our political voices heard? Although we had different opinions, I felt I was among friends and still considered myself part of this community .“
Outlook
As part of her fellowship, Meirav once again collaborated intensively with the synagogue initiative. She revised the exhibition, held numerous conversations, built new connections with engaged individuals, and organized workshops and discussion circles, including one with a class of young refugees.
This experience particularly moved her: “The pupils, some of them came from the enemy countries like Syria, Iran, or Afghanistan, yet they heard me with an open heart. They were listening carefully and respectfully asked questions and showed real interest. For me that was very important. It felt that with them the door was open for a conversation. “
Looking ahead, Meirav has many ideas to further strengthen the connection between Israel and Germany, especially between Hechingen and Israel. For example, she would like to realize a project on Jewish holidays in 2026, to mark the 30th anniversary of the synagogue’s reopening. The aim is to make Jewish life more visible, for instance through an exhibition with audio recordings of prayers and accessible information about the holidays.
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