Stommeln Synagogue – Reviving Jewish Heritage

Synagogue Stommeln & the Initiative

Built in 1882 in Stommeln (Pulheim), the synagogue is one of the few in Germany that remained intact during the November Pogroms of 1938. The City of Pulheim purchased the building in 1979, restored it, and has used it as a municipal cultural venue since 1983. Its unique history makes it a place of exceptional historical and cultural significance.

The Initiative Stommeln Synagogue – Reviving Jewish Heritage aims to re-establish the synagogue as a living hub of Jewish cultural life. Beyond art and culture, we seek to connect religious and communal formats, education, music, language, remembrance, and digital programs.

Since the 1990s, the former synagogue has also become a remarkable site for contemporary art: international artists – including Jannis Kounellis, Richard Serra, and Rebecca Horn – created site-specific works in dialogue with the architecture and Jewish history. In recognition of the art series curated by the City of Pulheim since 1991, the Initiative Stommeln Synagogue – Reviving Jewish Heritage is an independent, civic effort to revive Jewish cultural life on site and digitally. The initiative will not create parallel structures; instead, it will seek constructive and respectful dialogue to meaningfully expand existing activities.

Why now?

In recent years, continuous programming has been missing. At the same time, there is a growing need for places that make Jewish life visible, foster exchange, and counter antisemitism. The initiative wants to fill this gap and re-activate the synagogue as an open, inclusive, and future-oriented space.

Our Mission

We aim to strengthen Synagogue Stommeln as a living place of Jewish cultural life through offerings that connect tradition and the present: services and holiday formats, cultural events, educational programs, artistic projects, dialogue, digital mediation, and an accessible archive. ^[1]

In cooperation with Jewish communities, educational institutions, cultural partners, and civil society, we build a network that makes diversity visible and opens new perspectives – rooted locally, connected internationally.

[1] Implementation will be carried out in coordination with the City of Pulheim as owner/operator of the former synagogue.

Programs: One Place – One Space – Two Worlds

• Locally rooted: Revive Jewish life on site: gatherings around Shabbat and festivals, music and liturgy, Hebrew and Yiddish language, shared rituals, and community projects with neighbors, schools, and associations in the historic synagogue setting. Foster hospitality, intergenerational participation, and regular rhythms that reconnect tradition with daily life, strengthening belonging and mutual care.
• Globally visible: Build a strong digital presence: accessible website, livestreams, virtual tours, captioned videos, podcasts, and interactive archives that document programs, biographies, and artworks. Offer multilingual access, educational resources, and privacy-conscious participation. Connect local audiences with global communities, encourage dialogue, and sustain engagement beyond events through newsletters, social media, and on-demand experiences.
• Education and dialogue: programs on Jewish history, culture, music, and religious practice; critical engagement with antisemitism and conspiracy myths; partnerships with schools, universities, and civic groups. Facilitate workshops, study circles, and guided visits. Encourage respectful questions, listening, and co-creation, bridging generations and backgrounds while connecting memory with contemporary democratic responsibility.
• Art, residencies, and remembrance: invite artists across disciplines to create site-specific works dialoguing with architecture and history; provide studio time, mentorship, and public presentations. Curate exhibitions, performances, and publications. Integrate memory practices—Stolpersteine care, names readings, testimony—to deepen reflection, honor victims, and inspire ethical imagination grounded locally yet shared globally today.

Become a Member

Become part of our initiative and support the revival of the Synagogue Stommeln. Together we can enrich the cultural landscape and create new opportunities for art and community.

The initiative has the potential to establish the Synagogue Stommeln as one of the most significant cultural centers in the region. The aim is to preserve the heritage and vibrant presence of Jewish culture and to promote innovative artistic expressions. Digital transformation will help to reach a broad audience. By creating an inclusive, digital, and intercultural space, the cultural significance of the synagogue will be strengthened not only locally but also globally. Collaborations with educational and cultural institutions will help achieve this goal and secure and make visible the unique potential of the synagogue as a place of history, culture, and art.