Short History
of Beckum Jewish Community School
Display
in the Section on the Jewish Community of the
Beckum Museum, located in the Rathaus
Translation by Zeev Raphael. May 2007
1343 First mention of Jews in Beckum.
1743 Establishment of a Jewish Community.
Construction of of a Synagogue building
with Religion School at Nordstrasse 8.
1776 Establishment
of a private prayer school for Beckums eight Jewish
families,
by the Jew Joseph Leffmann.
1817 Permanent employment of a Jewish teacher.
Regular instruction according to fixed hours and curriculum. After 1858: Establishment
of Jewish Elementary School.
1829 79 Jewish inhabitants
21 Pupils
1830 79 18
1835 72 24
1840 68 12
1845 73 12
1850 89 7
1855 87 13
1865 99 (= 3.6% of
population)
1867 Consecration
of the new community building
with
quarters for teacher (ground floor) and school (first
floor).
1911 Recognition of the Jewish Elementary School as a public school.
Under supervision of Beckum Municipality.
1919 Closed down.
The Jewish pupils attend the Evangelic Elementary School.
1920 Reopening of the private Community School.
1924 104 Jewish citizens in Beckum.
1933 National Socialist regime.
100
Jewish citizens in Beckum.
1936 Last school class of the Jewish Community School.
[ Note: The school is known to have existed until Easter 1937. zr]
1938 9/10 November: Reichskristallnacht.
Vandalism
of the synagogue and
devastation of school. The
Jew Erich Stein was made to chip off the Hebrew
inscription above the house entrance My House shall be a House of Prayer for
all Men. The swastika flag is raised over the building (see photo). Jewish children are
forbidden to attend German schools.
By 1942. End of escape or
deportation of all Jews of Beckum: Our Town is free of Jews!
1942 Closure of all Jewish schools in Germany.
1967 Demolition of the Jewish School- and Community Building.