The Reichenbach - A "Bauhaus"-Synagogue

The synagogue on Munich's Reichenbachstrasse, known as "Die Reichenbach," is one of the most valuable and rare testimonies to Jewish history. The last synagogue built in Germany before the Nazi era, it was designed in 1931 by Gustav Meyerstein (1889–1975) in the spirit of Bauhaus modernism and fascinated its contemporaries, not least with its unique color magic.

Devastated and destroyed during Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass) on November 9-10, 1938, the synagogue was only provisionally repaired after the war and served as the religious center of Munich's Jewish community until 2006. Initiated by Rachel Salamander, the restoration of its original, aesthetically pleasing design has been carried out with great commitment by the Reichenbachstrasse Synagogue Association over the past few years and will reach its grand completion at the end of 2025. In the future, the synagogue will not only be used as a place of worship, but will also be accessible to the general public through educational offerings and various activities. Ariel Aloni, the grandson of the Munich-born Bauhaus master Gunta Stölzl, donated an original handwoven fabric for the curtain of the Torah ark. With this work, one of the most influential Bauhaus artists returns to her birthplace and to a synagogue that is unique in the world. This handy and richly illustrated volume is dedicated to the art-historical significance of the synagogue as well as its history and architectural design.