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Short History of the Jewish Community
1. jewish parish
2. elementary school
3. cemetery

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Short History of the Jewish Community
1. jewish parish
First hints concerning the existence of jewish citizens in Bünde can be found at the end of the 17^th century (1687 Philip Leser appears in a tax list). Until the beginning of the 19^th century jewish people had a special status. For example: they had to pay special taxes, they were restricted to settle down and in choice of professions (they were even not allowed to be a farmer)

During the French Revolution in 1791 laws of emancipation for french jews were issued. These laws were brought to german territory by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1808, when he occupied Westfalia and other provinces. (Bünde is located in Westfalia; in these days: the –french- Kingdom of Westfalia; King Gerome was a brother of Napoleon) So the emancipation of jewish people werde first established in Germany. After Napoleon had left Westfalia, it became prussian. In the year 1812 Prussia accepted the emancipation laws

The jewish parish in Bünde was founded at the beginning of the 19^th century. The synagogue was built in 1815; an elemantary school belonged to the parish. The leader of the parish was for almost 50 years Anschel Levison, followed by his son Moses Levison. Later (ca 1900) followed by: Alex Ganz, Heinemann Hoffbauer, Simon Blumenau, Julius Rosenwald and Theodor Rosenbaum. The parish had no rabbi itself, it was supervised by a rabbi from Bielefeld: Dr. Hans Kronheim.

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2.elementary school
The elementary school existed from 1815 to 1890. Since 1890 pupils visited the public protestant elemantary school, because there were not enough children to run a school for jewish pupils only. A religious school further existed. Religious education was teached by Max Heller, who came from Vlotho.

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the entrance of  the old jewish cemetery at the market place; the wall was removed