Status: 09.12.2020 12:48 p.m.
The Jewish cemetery in Hamburg-Ohlsdorf is in dire need of renovation. Work on the Iland paddock will begin next year. Hamburg finances part of the total costs from the Corona aid program.
The Jewish cemetery is located in the immediate vicinity of the Ohlsdorf municipal cemetery.
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The Jewish cemetery in Hamburg was opened 135 years ago. According to the municipality, the mourning hall in particular is in need of renovation. This was also recently caused by water damage. 1.5 million euros come from the Hamburg Economic Stabilization Fund. The federal government is also contributing to the total costs of almost five million euros.
Ritual burials should be completely possible
But it’s not just about urgent repairs in compliance with the preservation order. The hall will also be equipped in such a way that burials can be carried out there again in the future according to all requirements of the Jewish faith. The washing of corpses, for example, and the burial on the day of death before the sun has set.
The Jewish cemetery has been in operation since 1883 with the exception of the years 1943-1945. The funeral hall belonging to the cemetery was built by the architect Friedrich Wilhelm August Pieper in a neo-Romanesque style. According to the Senate, there is an urgent need for action here: The walls are soaked through and there are already signs of damage to the facade and inside the mourning hall.
New pipes and an information center
Construction work is scheduled to begin there in July 2021: The mourning hall will be given a new drainage concept and new water pipes. The heating also needs to be replaced. In the medium to long term, the cemetery synagogue is to be restored, the digitalization of the cemetery pushed ahead and an information center built. The outdoor area is also to be extensively redesigned. Completion is planned for mid-2023.
Michael Werner-Boelz, Head of the North District Office, emphasizes the importance of the Jewish cemetery in Ohlsdorf – as a sign that Jewish life was and is an integral part of the city. The extensive area at the Ilandkoppel is regularly open to visitors and, with the densely packed trees, looks more like a park to go for a walk.
Further information
