Jewish Groningen
Encyclopedia
Groningen has always been the largest town in the northern part of the Netherlands
, attracting large numbers of Jews
because of it throughout the history of the city. The community reached a high of some 2,700 members at the beginning of the 20th century. Only a small part of the 2,400-strong community in 1941 managed to survive the Holocaust. Jewish life nevertheless continued after the war, and there is still a Jewish community present, aligned to the NIK
.
. In the vicinity of Groningen several towns and villages had full-grown Jewish communities, a consequence of the policy of forbidding Jews to settle in Groningen itself. The small Jewish community was banned from the city already in 1710 after accusations of theft, but some nevertheless stayed in the city. The community grew again from the 1730s onwards; there were 90 Jews living in the city in 1744. In 1776 this number had grown to 260. A full-grown synagogue is inaugurated in 1756 in the future Kleine Folkingestraat, which would become the center of Jewish life in the city in the 200 years following.
gave Jews the same rights in the Netherlands as all other civilians, as they were no longer seen as a separate nation living in the Netherlands. Instead of being called "Dutch Jews" they were now given the name of "Israelite Dutchmen". At that time there were 396 Jews living in the city. In the years following the city was named a "head synagogue" or central community, meaning the community was responsible for monitoring all the other smaller Jewish communities in Groningen province. The community grew to 754 persons in 1815, a growth of 90.4% in no more than two decades. Jewish life started to flourish. Due to assimilation tendencies from the Dutch government (due to the emancipation degrees Jews were for example no longer allowed to teach Yiddish in their schools), a split occurred within the community in 1851 between the more liberal elements, supporting these assimiliationist tendencies, and the modern traditional elements, opposing it. In 1881 however the two groups were unified again. Meanwhile, the number of Jews in Groningen didn't stop growing, reaching 1,645 individuals in 1869 and 2,628 individuals in 1899 (an increase of some 564% in one century). This tremendous growth had two causes: a high birthrate; and the settlement of many Jews from small Jewish communities in Groningen province in the city. Many Jews were working as salesman, hawker, trader of livestock or shopkeeper. Some Jews became very successful, like Aletta Jacobs
(first female doctor in the Netherlands and well-known fighter for women rights) and Jozef Israëls
(famous impressionist painter). The community in Groningen managed to stay large and numerous despite the moving of many Jews to the western part of the country (most notably Amsterdam
).
The Nazi authorities counted 2,724 (other sources say 2,843) Jews or Volljuden in Groningen in February 1941, when Jews were forced to register with Dutch authorities. Another 463 persons had at least one Jewish grandparent but were not considered Volljuden, bringing the total number of people in Groningen with at least one Jewish grandparent to 3,187. Most Jewish men, some 600 in total, were deported on July 10 1942; another 110 men were deported on September 30 1942. A razzia in the night of October 2 to October 3 1942 saw the deportation of some 650 Jewish women and children. They were sent to the Westerbork concentration camp
nearby, and from thereon deported to Auschwitz, Sobibor
, Bergen-Belsen
or Theresienstadt
. The Jews who were left in the city after the deportations in July, September and October 1942 were mostly deported throughout the remaining months of 1942 and the first months of 1943. The last Jews were deported in December 1943. A total of 2,550 Jews were deported to concentration camps (93.6% of the Jewish population). Only 10 survived. With more than 93% of the Jewish population killed, Jewish life in Groningen was completely destroyed. It was assumed that some 120 Jews returned to the city in 1945. There were an estimated 293 Jews present in 1948.
. As of 2006 some 60 Jewish families are member of this congregation.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, attracting large numbers of Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
because of it throughout the history of the city. The community reached a high of some 2,700 members at the beginning of the 20th century. Only a small part of the 2,400-strong community in 1941 managed to survive the Holocaust. Jewish life nevertheless continued after the war, and there is still a Jewish community present, aligned to the NIK
Nederlands Israëlitisch Kerkgenootschap
The Nederlands-Israëlitisch Kerkgenootschap is the umbrella organisation for most Jewish communities in the Netherlands, and is Orthodox in nature, while to be described as traditional in outlook. The expression Orthodox, is for the Dutch situation at least, of a later date than the existence of...
.
Early Jewish settlement
The first Jews in Groningen were reported in the 16th century, but due to opposition from the city council and religious authorities it lasted until the end of the 17th century before Jews could permanently live in the city. There were some 50 Jews in the city around 1700, mostly hailing from AppingedamAppingedam
- Population centres :Appingedam, Garreweer, Jukwerd, Laskwerd, Marsum, Oling, Opwierde, Solwerd, Tjamsweer.- Appingedam :Little is known about the exact age and origin of the name of Appingedam. It came into existence on the banks of the Delf, the present Damsterdiep, around 1200...
. In the vicinity of Groningen several towns and villages had full-grown Jewish communities, a consequence of the policy of forbidding Jews to settle in Groningen itself. The small Jewish community was banned from the city already in 1710 after accusations of theft, but some nevertheless stayed in the city. The community grew again from the 1730s onwards; there were 90 Jews living in the city in 1744. In 1776 this number had grown to 260. A full-grown synagogue is inaugurated in 1756 in the future Kleine Folkingestraat, which would become the center of Jewish life in the city in the 200 years following.
19th century and early 20th century
The emancipation degrees of 1796Jewish Emancipation
Jewish emancipation was the external and internal process of freeing the Jewish people of Europe, including recognition of their rights as equal citizens, and the formal granting of citizenship as individuals; it occurred gradually between the late 18th century and the early 20th century...
gave Jews the same rights in the Netherlands as all other civilians, as they were no longer seen as a separate nation living in the Netherlands. Instead of being called "Dutch Jews" they were now given the name of "Israelite Dutchmen". At that time there were 396 Jews living in the city. In the years following the city was named a "head synagogue" or central community, meaning the community was responsible for monitoring all the other smaller Jewish communities in Groningen province. The community grew to 754 persons in 1815, a growth of 90.4% in no more than two decades. Jewish life started to flourish. Due to assimilation tendencies from the Dutch government (due to the emancipation degrees Jews were for example no longer allowed to teach Yiddish in their schools), a split occurred within the community in 1851 between the more liberal elements, supporting these assimiliationist tendencies, and the modern traditional elements, opposing it. In 1881 however the two groups were unified again. Meanwhile, the number of Jews in Groningen didn't stop growing, reaching 1,645 individuals in 1869 and 2,628 individuals in 1899 (an increase of some 564% in one century). This tremendous growth had two causes: a high birthrate; and the settlement of many Jews from small Jewish communities in Groningen province in the city. Many Jews were working as salesman, hawker, trader of livestock or shopkeeper. Some Jews became very successful, like Aletta Jacobs
Aletta Jacobs
Aletta Henriëtte Jacobs, better known as Aletta Jacobs was the first woman to complete a university course in the Netherlands and the first female physician. She was born to a Jewish doctor's family in Sappemeer...
(first female doctor in the Netherlands and well-known fighter for women rights) and Jozef Israëls
Jozef Israëls
Jozef Israëls was a Dutch painter, and "the most respected Dutch artist of the second half of the nineteenth century".-Youth:...
(famous impressionist painter). The community in Groningen managed to stay large and numerous despite the moving of many Jews to the western part of the country (most notably Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
).
| Year | Number of Jews | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1700 | 50 | Jodeningroningen.nl |
| 1744 | 90 | Jodeningroningen.nl |
| 1776 | 260 | Jodeningroningen.nl |
| 1796 | 396 | Jodeningroningen.nl |
| 1815 | 754 | Jodeningroningen.nl |
| 1840 | 1,200 | Jewish Historical Museum Joods Historisch Museum The Joods Historisch Museum is a museum in Amsterdam dedicated to Jewish history, culture and religion, in the Netherlands and worldwide. It is the only museum in the Netherlands dedicated to Jewish history... |
| 1869 | 1,645 | Jodeningroningen.nl |
| 1899 | 2,628 | Jodeningroningen.nl |
| 1930 | 2,408 | Jewish Historical Museum Joods Historisch Museum The Joods Historisch Museum is a museum in Amsterdam dedicated to Jewish history, culture and religion, in the Netherlands and worldwide. It is the only museum in the Netherlands dedicated to Jewish history... |
| 1941 | 2,724 / 2,843 | Groningen University / Jodeningroningen.nl |
| 1945 | 120 | Groningen University |
| 1948 | 293 | Groningen University |
| 1951 | 225 | Jewish Historical Museum Joods Historisch Museum The Joods Historisch Museum is a museum in Amsterdam dedicated to Jewish history, culture and religion, in the Netherlands and worldwide. It is the only museum in the Netherlands dedicated to Jewish history... |
| 1971 | 128 | Jewish Historical Museum Joods Historisch Museum The Joods Historisch Museum is a museum in Amsterdam dedicated to Jewish history, culture and religion, in the Netherlands and worldwide. It is the only museum in the Netherlands dedicated to Jewish history... |
| 1998 | 53 | Jewish Historical Museum Joods Historisch Museum The Joods Historisch Museum is a museum in Amsterdam dedicated to Jewish history, culture and religion, in the Netherlands and worldwide. It is the only museum in the Netherlands dedicated to Jewish history... |
| 2006 | 60 families | Friesch Dagblad |
Holocaust
Westerbork (camp)
Westerbork concentration camp was a World War II Nazi refugee, detention and transit camp in Hooghalen, ten kilometres north of Westerbork, in the northeastern Netherlands. Its function during the Second World War was to assemble Roma and Dutch Jews for transport to other Nazi concentration...
nearby, and from thereon deported to Auschwitz, Sobibor
Sobibór extermination camp
Sobibor was a Nazi German extermination camp located on the outskirts of the town of Sobibór, Lublin Voivodeship of occupied Poland as part of Operation Reinhard; the official German name was SS-Sonderkommando Sobibor...
, Bergen-Belsen
Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
Bergen-Belsen was a Nazi concentration camp in Lower Saxony in northwestern Germany, southwest of the town of Bergen near Celle...
or Theresienstadt
Theresienstadt concentration camp
Theresienstadt concentration camp was a Nazi German ghetto during World War II. It was established by the Gestapo in the fortress and garrison city of Terezín , located in what is now the Czech Republic.-History:The fortress of Terezín was constructed between the years 1780 and 1790 by the orders...
. The Jews who were left in the city after the deportations in July, September and October 1942 were mostly deported throughout the remaining months of 1942 and the first months of 1943. The last Jews were deported in December 1943. A total of 2,550 Jews were deported to concentration camps (93.6% of the Jewish population). Only 10 survived. With more than 93% of the Jewish population killed, Jewish life in Groningen was completely destroyed. It was assumed that some 120 Jews returned to the city in 1945. There were an estimated 293 Jews present in 1948.
Contemporary Jewish life
There is currently a functioning Jewish community in Groningen – the Nederlands Israëlitische Gemeente Groningen or NIG Groningen – aligned to the NIKNederlands Israëlitisch Kerkgenootschap
The Nederlands-Israëlitisch Kerkgenootschap is the umbrella organisation for most Jewish communities in the Netherlands, and is Orthodox in nature, while to be described as traditional in outlook. The expression Orthodox, is for the Dutch situation at least, of a later date than the existence of...
. As of 2006 some 60 Jewish families are member of this congregation.
Notable Groningen Jews
- Julia CulpJulia CulpJulia Bertha Culp , the "Dutch nightingale", was an internationally celebrated mezzo-soprano in the years 1901–1919....
– mezzosoprano - Jozef IsraëlsJozef IsraëlsJozef Israëls was a Dutch painter, and "the most respected Dutch artist of the second half of the nineteenth century".-Youth:...
– painter - Aletta JacobsAletta JacobsAletta Henriëtte Jacobs, better known as Aletta Jacobs was the first woman to complete a university course in the Netherlands and the first female physician. She was born to a Jewish doctor's family in Sappemeer...
– first Dutch woman to get a university degree - Ida VosIda VosIda Vos was a Dutch author. She wrote books for adults and children. In most of her books, Vos wrote about her experiences as a Jewish girl during the Second World War...
– author - Jacques WallageJacques WallageJacques Wallage is a Dutch politician of Jewish descent. He has been the mayor of the city of Groningen from October 1, 1998 until June 25, 2009....
– former mayor of Groningen