Ohel Jakob: Jewish Main Synagogue in Munich

Overview of the Ohel Jakob Synagogue

• Location: The Ohel Jakob Synagogue has stood on St. Jakob Square in the middle of Munich's Old Town since 2006 as part of the new Jewish Center.
• Attractions: base in the style of the Wailing Wall, main portal, interior made of cedar wood.
• Special feature: access is via underground passage from the Jewish Community Center building.
• Opening hours: The Jewish Community offers regular guided tours, only then the synagogue can be visited.

Architecture: Building reminiscent of the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem

The first thing that catches the eye is the synagogue's mighty base, reminiscent of the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem. The 28-meter-high building then tapers into an airy metal-and-glass structure. Contrary to popular belief, the six-meter-high main portal, into which the first letters of the Hebrew alphabet are carved to commemorate the Ten Commandments, does not serve as an entrance to the interior.

The interior of the synagogue can be accessed through the Aisle of Remembrance as part of a guided tour. Glass panels there depict the names of over 4500 Munich Jews who were deported and murdered during the Nazi era. The 32-meter-long underground corridor leads from the Jewish Community Center to the prayer room, which is lined with cedar wood from Lebanon and light-colored Jerusalem stone and glows in warm hues when the sun shines.

Synagogue is important for the Jewish community in Munich

The New Main Synagogue Ohel Jakob was inaugurated on November 9, 2006 and is located on Sankt-Jakobs-Platz as part of the ensemble with the Jewish Museum and the Jewish Community Center.

The free-standing building in the middle of the square is a visible sign that Judaism is once again back at the center of the city and society. Thus, the Jewish community's move from the backyard synagogue on Reichenbachstrasse to the heart of Munich was a symbolic milestone.

The Old Main Synagogue, which was one of the first synagogues in Germany to be destroyed by the Nazis in June 1938, stood on Herzog-Max-Straße near Karlsplatz. Today, only a massive memorial stone commemorates the former monumental building there.

Public guided tours of the synagogue

The Jewish Community of Munich regularly organizes guided tours of the synagogue at Sankt-Jakobs-Platz.

Contact:
Phone +49 (0)89 20 24 00-100
E-mail: anmeldung@ikg-m.de