In Ansbach there's a synagogue from the 18th century that escaped destruction during the "Reichskristallnacht" of 1938. Its Torah was burned, but the building itself was left unhurt. Annual memorial services are held on November 9 (the date of kristallnacht) in this Baroque synagogue, attended by Catholics, Protestants, and Jews from throughout Bavaria. In Hofgeismar there's a fine Judaica museum that tells the story, through its archive of texts and pictures, of a Jewish community that dates back to 1470, and there's a cemetery that was started in 1695. The last burial of a Hofgeismar Jew was in 1935, but the cemetery contains Jewish displaced persons who died in 1946 and 1947, plus a memorial of a gravestone and a buried piece of soap, erected in 1945 by Jewish concentration camp survivors.

Documenting the history of individual settlements throughout Germany, as well as what remains to be seen of them, this unique guide keeps the history alive and makes possible an unusual German tour. --Stephanie Gold

"Strongly recommended for people interested in history who would also like to go on a journey of discovery."
--KNA: Katholische Nachrichten Agentur

No country in the world, outside of Israel itself, contains more Jewish historical sites of importance than Germany does today. The largest Jewish cemetery in Europe, the Weissensee, is in Berlin, while the deepest, and perhaps most beautiful, mikveh (ritual bath) in Germany dates from the 13th century and can be found in Friedberg.

Ranging from large synagogues to former prayer rooms to cemeteries, the sites listed serve as testaments to the life and culture of German Jewish communities for more than one thousand years. They have withstood the ravages of time as well as the barbaric efforts of the Third Reich to obliterate them.

Today, these sites are becoming increasingly popular tourist attractions. However, many are off the beaten path and are visited only occasionally. That is just one reason why this guide is so valuable. In addition to listing locations of the sites (which may also be found on the maps contained in the book), the authors advise keeping a flexible schedule to accommodate unexpected closings.

Also included are tips for getting around in Germany, utilizing city and town tourist offices, and asking questions for directions. Proper etiquette is also addressed, and a comprehensive chronology of major historical events in German Jewish life and culture is provided.

Many Jewish rituals and traditions, including family names, the Yiddish language, and Talmudic teaching, have their origins in the Jewish communities of Germany. Now, these communities may finally be explored.