Neue Synagoge, Synagogue on the Juri-Gagarin-Ring, Erfurt, Germany

The Neue Synagoge in Erfurt is a plain two-storey building with a rendered facade and a pitched roof, built in 1951/52 to plans by Willy Nöckel on the Juri-Gagarin-Ring. A domed version was rejected as too large and too sacred, so the approved design was lowered in height. It stands on the site of the Große Synagoge, destroyed in 1938.

The building was dedicated in 1952 and was the first newly built Jewish place of worship in East Germany after World War II. In 2000, an arson attack damaged the structure, leading to its reconstruction and increased security measures.

The building is the only synagogue in Thuringia still used for services, serving the roughly 850 members of the Jewish State Community. Since 2021 visitors can explore a 3D model of the Great Synagogue, destroyed in 1938, through a VR headset. In September 2022 a tactile model of the Great Synagogue at 1:68 scale was placed in front of the building for its 70th anniversary.

The synagogue is open to visitors during specific times and requests appropriate dress and respectful behavior inside. It is wise to check opening times in advance, as regular services may limit access at certain hours.

The reconstruction following the fire in 2000 became a defining chapter in the building's recent history and shows the community's determination to move forward. Many visitors notice that modern security features were visibly integrated into the restored architecture.