Die erste Synagoge in Ichenhausen ist nachweisbar für das Jahr 1687, jedoch muss weit früher eine andere bestanden haben, wird die Geschichte der Juden in Ichenhausen doch bis in die 1450er Jahre (Chaim Schachor) zurückdatiert. Die erwähnte Synagoge wurde 1781 (an selber Stelle?) durch einen Neubau ersetzt, welche die örtliche Überlieferung einem Kirchenbauer namens Joseph Dossenberger zuschreibt. 1896 wurde die Synagoge renoviert und ein weiteres Mal im Sommer 1929. Am 10. November 1938 freilich wurde auch die Synagoge in Ichenhausen zerstört und das Gebäude hernach von den Nationalsozialisten als Heulager verwendet. Nach dem Krieg beherbergte das Haus bis 1984 die örtliche Feuerwehr . Danach wurde es restauriert und im Dezember 1987 in Erinnerung an die frühere Synagoge als „Haus der Begegnung“ eingerichtet. Die Renovierung ist gelungen und vermittelt einen guten Eindruck von der einstigen Schönheit der ländlichen Synagoge. Der Thora-Schrein ist jedoch – anders als die Wandheizungen – nur aufgemalt.
In den oberen Etagen vermitteln Ausstellungen Einblicke in die Geschichte der vormaligen jüdischen Gemeinde in Ichenhausen (thematisch überschneidet sich dabei jedoch manches mit der Ausstellung im Schulmuseum), während der Hauptraum Raum bietet für kulturelle Veranstaltungen: Am 29. November 2009 beispielsweise standen „Contes Mystiques – Geheimnisvolle Erzählungen“ auf dem Programm und boten demnach „eine musikalisch-literarische Entdeckungsreise in die Weihnachtszeit“. Dem folgte am Samstag 05.12.2009 ein „Adventskonzert“ des „Vocal-Ensembles Hochwang“.
The former Synagogue of Ichenhausen
A first synagogue in Ichenhausen is mentioned for the year 1687, however, there must have existed a much earlier one, since the history of Jews in Ichenhausen usually is dated back to the 1450s. The synagogue was replaced in 1781 (at the same spot?) by a new building, which the local tradition attributes to the regional known church constructor Joseph Dossenberger (1721-1785), who was born in Wollishausen near Augsburg.
In 1896, the synagogue was renovated and a last time during summer of 1929. On 10 November 1938, however, the Ichenhausen synagogue was destroyed and afterwards the building was used by the Nazis as stockroom for hay, so the saying goes. After the war the building housed the local fire department until 1984. Then it was restored and in December 1987 it was inaugurated as “House for encounter” in memory of the former synagogue. The restoration was well done and conveys a good impression of the beautiful former rural synagogue. The Torah Ark however – other than the heating – merely is a painting at the wall.
The upper floors have an exhibition which provides insight into the history of the former Jewish community in Ichenhausen, while the main room offers space for numerous cultural events: On 29 November 2009 for example, were “Contes Mystiques – Mysterious Stories” on the program, and thus offered “a musical-literary journey of discovery into the Christmas season.” This was followed by a “Christmas Concert” of the “vocal ensemble Hochwang” on Saturday, 5th of December 2009.
Jüdisch Historischer Verein Augsburg 
My Grandmother’s Grandfather – Leopold Yehuda Levi (1847-1915), son of Rafael Tzvi Levi – lived in Ichenhausen. My Grandmother’s Father (Leopold Yehuda Levi’s son) – Dr. Jur. Moses Levi of Altona/Hamburg (1873-1938) – may have been born in Ichenhausen as well.
I would like to know whether there are any documents/registrations in Ichenhausen which could provide more information about my ancestors in Ichenhausen.
Is there any record of inscriptions on old tombstones at Ichenhausen’s Jewish cemetery?
Thank you very much in advance,
David Schor
Dear David Schor,
we visited Ichenhausen Jewish cemetery in early December 2009 on a cold and rainy day. So our outdoor stay was somewhat limited.
However, as we were told at the municipality of Ichenhausen a couple of years prior to our visit an older couple from Jerusalem together with a Christian Professor for Jewish studies already had documented all preserved grave markers from the cemetery.
Since most of older inscriptions were in Hebrew their transcript was waiting on a translation into German. Our offer to do it very quickly was rejected and we also were not allowed to see the documentation in Hebrew in order to look for some family names and relations, significant for our own family research or for others, etc. Repeated requesting until last fall (November) revealed no further development. The “accomplished” documentation is considered as academic work and since actually nobody knows Hebrew the translation of the Hebrew inscription still awaits to be done.
Out of deference not to intervene in an ongoing (?) research project, we did no own documentation (with photography, all inscriptions, transcriptions and translations and accessible publication), although it would rather be a question of days or maybe weeks instead of years to do so.
So unfortunately I cannot answer your request, however there are some records from older registers, available online at
http://jgbs.org/ resp.
http://jgbs.org/Summary.php
which also has a number of entries regarding births, marriages, burials and matrikel registers of Ichenhausen.
For further question please contact Ichenhausen municipality:
rathaus@vg-ichenhausen.de
or the former synagogue of Ichenhausen, now „Haus der Begegnung“
mueller@vg-ichenhausen.de
Best wishes
Yehuda Shenef
I hope to visit Ichenhausen, the home of my family for many generations, in October, 2011. Is it possible to arrange to visit the Synagogue and the Jewish cemetery?
Dear Edward Loebl,
the former synagoguge of Ichenhausen today is a kind of museum and “Haus der Begegnung” (for concerts, lectures and the like). However it is open to the public. The guides there also do tours at the old cemetery. Probably some of them also will understand English.
Further information and contact:
http://www.ichenhausen.de/index.php?id=75,21
The JHVA is in Augsburg, not in Ichenhausen. Let us know if you want to visit Ichenhausen with us.
Best wishes
Yehuda
Dear Marvin J Rosenthal
many thanks for your request. At least the painter is somewhat known.
“Florian Kurringer”
According to the information provided by Mrs. Grabriele Walter from Ichenhausen, Florian Kurringer today even in Ichenhausen is hardly known. She found some twenty oil paintings, sketches and medaillons by Kurringer, who also painted in churches, in 1875 for instance the depiction of St. Willibald in the St. Willibald Chapel in Ichenhausen, which on Christmas 2009 was hit by a fallen tree. See: http://www.myheimat.de/ichenhausen/kultur/florian-kurringer-kunst-und-fassmaler-zu-ichenhausen-1809-1877-d127156.html#comments
Kurringer, according to Walter was born 3rd of May 1809 as fifth child of Josef Kurringer and his spouse Maria Cecilia, nee Schroeck.
In 1829 at age 20 he enrolled at Munich’s Academy of graphic arts. After his study he came back to Ichenhausen where in 1835 he married Josefa Bader of Illertissen. Josefa however died after her third childbirth, so in 1839 he remarried Viktoria Schweimayer. His second wife delivered eight children, four of them died at early age.
Florian Kurringer who spend most of his life in Ichenhausen, died on August 17th at the age of 68 years and was buried next day at the cemetery Willibaldsfriedhof. His grave does no longer exist since in the 1960 the whole cemetery was abandoned.
“Gabrial Goldf”
I guess the first name rather would be Gabriel but I cannot figure out the family name, since “Goldf” may be a mere typo as well as it might be an incomplete family name, for instance Goldfarb.
I have inherited a beautifully painted portrate of Gabrial Goldf who died in Ichenhausen in 1844 at over 100 years of age.
His portrate was painted by Florian Kurringer 1805-1877 in Ichenhausen. Could you please provide me with any information regarding these 2 illustrious gentlemen who were residents of Ichenhausen during the 1800s please?
I shall he more than hrappy to e-mail a photograph of this portrate if you would be kind enough to provide me with an e-mail address.
Sincerely yours,
Marvin J. Rosenthal