Exploring Jewish Life in the Odenwald Region

Jews first started settling in the Odenwald region as far back as 1345. Subsequently, the community underwent considerable growth, settling in neighboring townships and villages. Congregations of up to 100 members were established, constructing synagogues and mikvot – buildings that contain the ritual bath. The cemetery in Bödigheim is another testament to the strength of the Jewish community in the area. However, up until recently, its existence was known mostly to a handful of scholars; even the majority of local residents were unaware of it.

Naturally, it was a history student who took it upon himself to explore the story of this sacred place. When Philipp Meder, a student at the University of Mannheim, attended a project seminar at the Department of History, he made an important discovery: The Jewish cemetery in Bödigheim is actually similar in size to larger and far more well-known cemeteries in cities like Speyer, Worms and Mainz. Explains Meder: “Unearthing such a large and old Jewish cemetery in a rural area like this is pretty extraordinary.”

A very large number of Jews from across the region were buried here starting sometime in the Middle Ages. The oldest grave dates back to 1628. Many of the significantly older tombstones are so worn with age and weather that their inscriptions are impossible to read. A total of around 4,000 people are believed to have been buried here, the last in 1940.

“I think it’s important to remember the Jews that lived in this area,” says Meder. Visitors who wish to experience this historical site need to contact the Buchen municipal archives. On that note: Dot-on-the-map Bödigheim remains a popular destination for tourists from the US – ancestors of the people buried here.