Jewish Maastricht

In Maastricht, where a synagogue had been established as early as the thirteenth century. The synagogue was in the Platea Judeorum, Jodenstraat near the river Maas.

In the basement under a corner-house Kesselkade 62 / Jodenstraat maybe there is a mikwe. In the state department archive Limburg in Maastricht is a page from the book Jozua (1,8-17) with a commentary on Rasji. A page from a book that belonged at the community?

Till the end of the eightteen century there were no sevices. The services started, according to tradition, in 1782 and were held in the house of Benedict Simon on the Markt (now nr. 53). During the period of French rule, an outbuilding on the Kleine Gracht was put into use for this purpose. In 1839-1840 the congregation had 330 members, the present synagogue was built in that period. In 1816 Maastricht was designated as a seat of the chief synagogue, under whose jurisdiction six district synagogues were placed: Maastricht, Sittard, Eijsden, Meerssen, Heerlen, Luxembourg and even Luik.

At this moment, 2002, there is a Rabbi in Maastricht and at Sjabbat there are sevices.

More information can be found on the site of the Joods Historisch Museum (only in Dutch)