Merano, Italy
The history of the Jewish Community of
Merano, South Tyrol, Italy, dates back to
the first half of the eighteenth century.
At that time, the whole region of Tyrol
belonged to Austria , and the Jewish Community
of Hohenems, in the Austrian region of Vorarlberg,
close to the border with Switzerland , had
jurisdiction over the Jews living in both
the regions of Vorarlberg and Tyrol .
The emigration of Jews from Vorarlberg
toward Tyrol began around 1840, when they
were allowed to live in that region. Most
families chose to live in the southern part
of Tyrol , mainly Bolzano , Merano and several
smaller towns.
The Jews of Merano used a donation from
a German family named Königswarter to
establish a sanatorium for poor Jews suffering
from tuberculosis (1873), two cemeteries
in Bolzano and Merano, and this synagogue
(1901), which is still in use. The synagogue
of Innsbruck , in northern Tyrol , was built
one year later.
One of the outcomes of World War I was
Austria ’s loss of the southern part
of Tyrol , which was allotted to Italy .
This included the Jewish Community of Merano,
which had jurisdiction over the territory
from the border to Austria down to the Lake
of Garda .
In the 30 years between the end of World
War I and the beginning of World War II,
the Jewish community grew to more than 600.
A number of kosher hotels and sanatoriums
were established, which became famous throughout
Europe .
Jews came to Merano from around the world.
This is evident from the more than 100 places
of origin referenced in the cemetery. The
sanatorium treated many Jews suffering from
tuberculosis, including many famous authors
and scientists.
Jews also contributed to the development
of Merano and the economic progress of South
Tyrol , as well as the establishment of Kurstadt
as a world famous resort.
Between 1933 and 1939, hundreds of Jews
escaped Nazi persecution and found shelter
in Merano, and Jewish schools were established
for them. When the fascist regime adopted
the Anti-Semitic laws of the Nazis, and the
Germans moved into South Tyrol , foreign
Jews were expelled.
The first deportation of Jews from Merano
occurred immediately after Italy ’s
surrender. The Nazis subsequently occupied
the country and ruled this region as a part
of Great Germany (September 1943). Meanwhile,
more than 80 Jews perished in the Nazi extermination
camps, mainly Auschwitz , in the concentration
camp Reichenau near Innsbruck , or in the
concentration camp established in 1944 by
the Nazis in Bolzano (some of the victims
are buried in the cemetery of Bolzano ).
In the years 1945 to 1947, more than 15,000
Jewish survivors of the Shoah found a temporary
haven in Merano and the sanatorium then being
run the American Joint Distribution Committee.
Many of these Jews emigrated secretly to
Palestine with the help of Brichà,
which had a cell in Merano. In 1947, 3.000
Jews crossed on foot, by night, the 3.000
meter (10.000 feet) - high Alps near Bruneck,
coming from Austria .
Merano was in these years, also a main
transit point for Odessa , the secret Nazi
organization helping war criminals and political
leaders to escape. Adolf Eichmann and Joseph
Mengele were among those who passed through
Merano.
Today, the Jewish Community of Merano is
one of the smallest in Italy , and the synagogue
of Merano is the only one still in use in
the entire region.
The Community runs a cultural center and
a library, offering to Jews and non-Jews
the means for improving their knowledge of
Jewish religion, culture, traditions, music
and literature. Year by year, many schools
do visit the synagogue and hold long conversations
with the president of this Community, who
teaches them the history of the Jewish people
and warns them about the dangers of racism.
The Community also established a Jewish Museum
in the building of the synagogue, which is
designed to help prevent prejudice and fight
racism and anti-Semitism.
Sources: Jewish Community of Merano |