General

Guxhagen is a community in Schwalm-Eder district in northern Hesse, Germany. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guxhagen And in German Guxhagen In German Wikipedia

There was a small community of Jews

Death people of WW1 :

1. Baruch Katz,
2. Moritz Katz,
3. Hermann Lichtenstein,
4. Daniel Speyer

1842: inhabitants 1081, 10 % Jewish

By the time when Paul Arnsberg wrote his book about the Jewish communities in Hesse, the leader of the community was Moses Plaut, Teacher and chasan : Jacob Kanthal 1902: Aron Neuhaus

Source: Paul Arnsberg

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to collaborate about information regarding Guxhagen Jews. Especially before and during the Holocaust (1938-1945) - But not limited

History of the Jews in Guxhagen

Article from "The Encyclopedia of Jewish life Before and During the Holocaust".

First published in 2001 by NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PRESS; Copyright © 2001 by Yad Vashem Jerusalem, Israel.

Guxhagen Hesse-Nassau. Founded around 1809, the community built a synagogue in 1843, maintained a school (1823-1936), and numbered 170 (12 % of the total) in 1905. Affiliated with the rabbinate of Kassel, its members established a branch of the Jewish War Veterans Association in 1925 and were noted for their strict religious othodoxy. Of the 158 Jews living there in 1933, only 82 remained on Kristallnacht (9-10 November 1938), when SA troops vandalized the synagogue and organized a pogrom. The last 39 Jews were sent to death camps and to the Theresienstadt ghetto in 1941-42.

On the history of the Jewish community

From http://www.alemannia-judaica.de/guxhagen_synagoge.htm

• In Guxhagen, the Jewish community existed until 1938/1942. The beginning of the community goes back to the era of 17-18 Century . In 1680 they mentioned the first two Jewish families. In 1744 there were already four Jewish households in Guxhagen, including two widows (as the name of the household heads are: Meyer Speyer, Beyle Katzen, Güthel Leve Levi and Mendel Levi.In 1776 there were 6 families.

In 19th Century development in the number of Jewish residents as follows:

• 1823 10 Jewish families,
• 1835 95 Jewish residents,
• 1861 103 (9.1% of a total of 1,135),
• 1885 132 (9.6% of 1,371),
• 1895 158 (12.4% of 1.366),
• 1905 170 (11.9% of 1,430). In the 19 th century Jewish families their income came from cattle trading, manufacturing, selling animal skins There were also several Jewish butchers. Since the 1820s, there were also some Jewish craftsmen (bookbinder, saddlers, tailors, hat makers, shoemakers). Several Jewish people / families opened shops and firms in Guxhagen. A synagogue existed (see below), a Jewish school ( Jewish elementary school until 1936), a ritual bath (probably in the basement of the building of Selle Street No. 6) and a cemetery . To attend to religious duties of the community, a teacher was hired, who was also active as a cantor and shochet. The Jewish elementary school had 22 pupils in 1868, 1884 27, 1902 44. To teachers they mentioned were: Moses Neuhaus (about 1860 until 1901), his son Aron Neuhaus (at least since 1901, see below report from 1922 to the death of his mother, the teacher's widow Sara Neuhaus), Jacob Kanthal (from Langenselbold ; until his retirement in 1934). The community belonged to rabbinatesdistrict (Rabbinatsbezirk) Kassel. In the First World War from the Jewish community died Baruchruch Katz (born 22.June 1895 inl Guxhagen, died 9 March 1918), Moritz Katz (born 23 December in Guxhagen, died 15 May 1918, Hermann Lichtenstein (born 12 February in Guxhagen , died 15 May 1918) and Daniel Speyer (born 17 August 1898 in Guxhagen , died 27 September 1915).
• Around 1925 they counted 159 Jewish inhabitants (9.8% of a total of 1,785) . Among them were the community leaders Joel Speier, Isaac Katzenberg. As a teacher and shochet was mentioned Jacob Kanthal, servant in the synagogue was Moritz Steindle. The primary school of the village was then attended by 17 children. Jewish associations were : a Chevra Kadischoh : (1924/32 under the direction of Isaac Katzenberg, 1932 13 members, purpose and area of work helping those in need, funeral services), the Chevra 'Berith Scholaum and '(1924/32 under the direction of Joel Speier, with 32 members, work: helping those in need, Torah study), the Chewras Bahurim (founded around 1840, 1924/32 under the leadership of Moses Plaut with 15 members, purpose and area of work: support local residents ,lectures), the Chewras Noschim (Women's Association, 1924, led by Lina Katz, 1932, led by Minna Katzenberg] with 29 members, area of work: helping those in need and sickness), a youth group of Agudas Yisroel (1924/32 under the direction of Isaac Katzenberg) and a local branch of the Centralverein (1924, led by Hugo Meyer) and a local chapter of the Frontbund (1924 under the direction of Meyer Speyer II). 1932 , the community leader Moses Plaut were (1st chairman, died in 1937, see report below) and Isaac Katzenberg (2nd Chairman). Furthermore worked Jakob Kanthal as a teacher. In the year 1931/32, he taught 27 children at the Jewish elementary school.
• 1933 158 Jewish people were still alive in Guxhagen (8.9% of 1,785). During the following years part of the Jewish community members moved away due to the increasing disenfranchisement and repression or emigrated. After the retirement of Jacob Kanthal and his moving to Wesel in 1934 the community didn't employ another teacher at the Jewish elementary school. The school was closed in 1936 (see below report) After the death of Chairman Moses Plaut in 1937, Isaac Katzenberg became the last municipality chairman ( was 1941 deported). After the events at the November pogrom of 1938 , the number of community members decreased .to 64 in 1939 (3.3% of 1,919). In connection with the November pogrom, eleven Jewish men and a 14 year old boy (Daniel Katz) were arrested and brought to CC Breitenau, then transferred to the infantry barracks in Kassel and afterwards kept in CC Buchenwald for several weeks.
• From the Jewish inhabitants of Guxhagen in 1933 , 14 people died already there, some were able to emigrate at least people to Palestine / Eretz Israel (no. is not mentioned), at least five went to USA, four to Prague, most of them moved within Germany (Berlin, Kassel, Frankfurt, etc.) In June 1940, eight Jewish residents from Guxhagen were brought to in Berlin- On 8 December 1941, 31 Jewish residents from Guxhagen were deported to Riga, another five on 5 April 1942 to Theresienstadt/Terezin.

Two who survived and returned to Guxhagen

Josef Katz and his sister Recha moved back to Guxhagen. Josef Katz was deported in 1941 to ghetto Riga and then later to concentration camp Stutthof in the Buchenwald complex from where he was freed in 1945. Both lived till they died in their seventies in Guxhagen. Recha died in 1970 and her brother Joseph six years later. Both were buried in the Jewish cemetery of Guxhagen - with them the former Jewish community of Guxhagen was extinguished.

From Hans-Peter Klein:

The earliest notice about jews in Guxhagen we have is from 1664 (Judenspezifikation vom 30.03.1664, Hessisches Staatsarchiv Marburg Bestand 5, Nr.2347) with the names of Liebmann and Daniel (without surnames). In the same document we can find in the year 1700 the names of Levi and Sander (without surnames).

The first time we find the surname Katz is in the year 1715. In a list of pour jews who couldn’t pay protection money (Schutzgeld) we can read the name of Moses Katz (en), Guxhan (Hessisches Staastarchiv Marburg Bestand 17/II, Nr. 672, Blatt 11).

Important Events

• 9–10 November 1938 - Kristallnacht- Some jews were arrested in:Breitenau. After that night, many decided to immigrate

Project Creator Personal Interest (Ori Avihail)

My mother was born there. During the Kristallnacht (Nov/1938) many Jews were arrested (including my Grandfather)

So my family decided to immigrate to Israel.

Jewish Population

• 1664 2 Jewish families (Liebmann and Daniel (without surnames))
• 1680 2 Jewish families
• 1700 2 Jewish families (Levi and Sander (without surnames))
• 1744 4 Jewish families (as the name of the household heads are: Meyer Speyer, Beyle Katzen, Güthel Leve Levi and Mendel Levi)
• 1776 6 Jewish families
• 1823 10 Jewish families
• 1835 95 Jewish residents,
• 1861 103 (9.1% of a total of 1,135),
• 1885 132 (9.6% of 1,371),
• 1895 158 (12.4% of 1.366),
• 1905 170 (11.9% of 1,430).
• 1925 159 (9.8% of a total of 1,785)
• 1933 158 (8.9% of 1,785)
• 1939 64 (3.3% of 1,919)
• 1948 2 (Josef Katz and his sister Recha )
• 1970 2
• 1977 0

Jews from Guxhagen Who perished in the Holocaust

1. Leopold Blumhof (1896)
2. Manfred Blumhof (1929)
3. Regina Blumhof born Goldschmidt (1860)
4. Selma Blumhof born Katz (1893)
5. Hilda David (1942)
6. Berta Frenkel (1887)
7. Lina Geismar born Katz (1894)
8. Selma Goldschmidt born Katz (1888)
9. Markus Hecht (1858)
10. Johanna Israel born Neuhaus (1869)
11. Aron Katz (1890)
12. Beate Katz (1926)
13. Bella Katz born Katz (1897)
14. Benjamin Katz (1887)
15. Benjamin (Benni) Katz (1899)
16. Berta Katz born Katz (1885)
17. Berta Katz born Katz (1885)
18. Berta Katz born Speyer (1886)
19. Betti Katz born Plaut (1872)
20. Emilie Katz born Lange (1853)
21. Gisela Ida Katz (1897)
22. Helene Katz born Meyenfeld (1861)
23. Hermann Katz (1893)
24. Ida Katz (1896)
25. Jeanette Katz born Levi (1869)
26. Johanna Katz born Weinstein (1889)
27. Josef Katz (1880)
28. Juda Katz (1886)
29. Kurt Katz (1927)
30. Lehmann Katz (1888)
31. Lehmann Katz (1887)
32. Lina Selma Katz (1892)
33. Lothar Katz (1920)
34. Amalie (Malchen) Katz born Plaut (1870)
35. Margot Katz (1926)
36. Max Katz (1920)
37. Paula Katz (1884)
38. Resi Katz born Katz (1915)
39. Rosa Katz born Sauer (1863)
40. Rosa Katz born Levi (1891)
41. Ruth Katz born Katz (1921)
42. Salli Katz (1904)
43. Sally Katz (1990)
44. Simon Katz (1927)
45. Sofie Katz (1920)
46. Sophie Katz (1921)
47. Walter Markus Katz (1923)
48. Erich Katzenberg (1920)
49. Isaak Katzenberg (1882)
50. Jettchen Katzenberg born Katz (1890)
51. Kläre (Clara) Katzenberg (1917)
52. Minna Katzenberg born Plaut (1875)
53. Emilie Lange born Katz (1853)
54. Biska (Rieca) Lennig born Katz (1883)
55. Paula Lewin born Katzenberg (1901)
56. Albert Lichtenstein (1925)
57. Berthold Lichtenstein (1884)
58. Erna Lichtenstein (1922)
59. Friedel Lichtenstein (1919)
60. Gerda Lichtenstein (1914)
61. Herbert Lichtenstein (1913)
62. Jettchen Lichtenstein born Speier (1892)
63. Meier Lichtenstein (1886)
64. Robert Lichtenstein (1930)
65. Frieda Mannsbach born Katz (1880)
66. Lea Mannsbach born Katz (1882)
67. Karola Meyer (1924)
68. Malchen Meyer born Katz (1896)
69. Martin Meyer (1921)
70. Aron Neuhaus (1873)
71. Selma Oppenheim born Katz (1882)
72. Bisga (Bissya) Oppenheimer born Katzenberg (1877)
73. Friederike (Rika) Rosenthal born Katz (1884)
74. Jettchen Schulhaus born Speier (1896)
75. Franziska Schwarz (1888)
76. Paula Seligsohn born Katz (1889)
77. Rosa Simonsohn born Katz (1879)
78. Adele Speier born Katz (1892)
79. Alfred Speier (1901)
80. Arno Speier (1921)
81. Baruch Speier (1890)
82. Betti Speier (1887)
83. Beßchen Speier (1853)
84. Frieda Speier born Speier (1894)
85. Jettchen Speier born Sommer (1866)
86. Jonas Speier (1890)
87. Josef Speier (1894)
88. Levi Speier (1861)
89. Levi Speier (1885)
90. Lina Speier (1892) Max Speier (1891)
91. Max Moses Speier (1891)
92. Meier Speier (1888)
93. Meier Speier (1895)
94. Betty Speyer born Neumann (1894)
95. Emanuel Speyer (1884)
96. Siegfried Speyer (1930)
97. Berta Steindler born Lichtenstein (1883)
98. Rikchen Wertheimer born Speier (1893)

Links

Here are some interesting links:

http://www.alemannia-judaica.de/guxhagen_synagoge.htm Good description of the history of Guxhagen Jews (Some translated above)

http://www.memorialmuseums.org/eng/staettens/view/49/Gedenkst%C3%A4... Museum of Breitenau

http://data.jewishgen.org/wconnect/wc.dll?jg~jgsys~community~-1783439 Guxhagen community in Jewishgen

Here you can find 98 names who perished in the Holocaust.: http://db.yadvashem.org/names/nameResults.html?placeBeforeTheWar=Gu...

http://cahjp.huji.ac.il/content/guxhagen

http://www.gedenkstaette-breitenau.de/english.htm

http://hem.bredband.net/fredzi/Katz_from_Guxhagen/Katz_in_Guxhagen.htm

https://www.google.co.il/search?q=guxhagen+jews&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&a...

http://www.bundesarchiv.de/gedenkbuch/directory.html.en?result#frmR... lists 110 who were born or were residents in Guxhagen

http://lagis.online.uni-marburg.de/en/subjects/gsearch/sn/juf?q=gux... lists lists 10455 documents where Guxhagen is mentioned. Many are grave listings.

http://www.jinh.site50.net/ is a site managed by Hans-Peter Klein which covers the Jews of Nord Hessen. The are many genealogies and other research about the Jews in this region which includes Guxhagen.

http://www.lagis-hessen.de/de/subjects/gsearch/sn/juf?q=guxhagen&am... There are twelve links to Jews  here I am quite sure that most of them will lead us to many new findings regarding Guxhagen as I cannot find the information in Geni.

you can download the registers of the Jewish community of Guxhagen (Abt. 365 Nr. 402-408) from the following link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/30228833/HHStAW%20365%20402%204...

First Jews in Guxhagen: http://jinh.lima-city.de/gene/katz2/The_origin_of_the_Katz.html

Link To Family tree site

http://www.jinh.site50.net/ is a site managed by Hans-Peter Klein which covers the Jews of Nord Hessen. The are many genealogies and other research about the Jews in this region which includes Guxhagen.

http://www.jinh.site50.net/gene/chris/Decendants_of_Joseph_Plaut_fr... This is Chris Kuehn's Plaut family tree which is fairly complete and includes most of the Speiers and Katzes of Guxhagen.

http://www.jinh.site50.net/gene/chris/Descendants_of_Meier_Speier.PDF http://www.jinh.site50.net/gene/speier2/speier.htm http://www.jinh.site50.net/gene/katzenberg/The_Katzenberg.htm http://www.jinh.site50.net/gene/katz2/The_origin_of_the_Katz.html