History or comments

Prominently sited on a main thoroughfare, the synagogue survived World War II intact.

The Jewish small Jewish community of Delemont was formed by Alsatian Jews who settled in the area. The current synagogue building was designed by architect Arthur Roos of Mulhouse. It was one of very few synagogues in the area to survive World War II intact. The building was fully restored in 2000.

The community was never large but by 1970 it had shrunk to the point that it was no longer possible to form a minyan (10 adult Jewish men) necessary to hold religious services. While there are no longer any regular religious services in the synagogue, the building is a local landmark treasured by the citizens of Delemont. A small group of Jewish women continue to see that the building is maintained.

In 2011, to commemorate the Delemont Synagogue’s centennial, The Association of Friends of the Synagogue released a book that tells the story of the Delemont Jewish community through the 19th and 20th centuries. To accomplish this work, the historian François Kohler conducted research in the archives of the city, the museum of Basel, Berne and the cemetery in Alsace. The last representatives of the community have also contributed with pictures of family among others.