1838: on June 21, the Jewish 
Community started the construc- 
tion of the synagogue in the 
heart of the old city. The 
synagogue was designed by the 
famous architect Gottfried 
Semper, who also designed the 
Opera House in Dresden.

1840: Synagogue was officially 
consecrated on May 8.

1930’s: Almost 6,000 members 
belonged to the Jewish 
community in Dresden, the 
synagogue was their cultural 
and religious center.

1938: The synagogue was 
destroyed during Kristallnacht 
on November 9  and then torn 
down. The Jewish Community was 
forced to pay the costs of 
demolition; the stones were 
used to surface the city’s 
streets 	
1950: After World War II, the 
Funeral Hall at the Jewish 
Cemetery was converted into 
asynagogue on June, 18, and the 
services were held since then

1966: The Association of 
Supporters for the Construction 
of a new synagogue is 
established as part of the Call 
of Dresden supported by high 
officials from the government, 
the city of Dresden and two 
bishops 
  

	

  

1997: The blueprint and the 
model for a new synagogue is 
delivered by the young German 
architectural firm of Wandel 
Hoefer Lorch, of Saarbruecken, 
which won in an international 
competition

1998: November 9, 60 years 
after the old synagogue went up 
in flames, the groundbreaking 
takes place, where the new 
synagogue will  one day stand, 
not far from the place where 
the Semper-Synagogue stood

2001: November 9, consecration 
of the new synagogue, 63 years 
after the Semper-synagogue was 
set on fire.