History
Groningen is the capital of the Province of the same name. The city has been the most important economical center from early days on. It was able to obtain this position by attracting the staple of all kinds of goods produced in the area. That made the city the most important market and shipment place.
The first Jewish people settled in the city at the end of the 16th century. They practiced the profession of physician and moneylender. There were no more Jewish people living in the city after Groningen became part of the Republic of the United Netherlands in 1594. Upon Rabbi David Cohen de Lara's request Portuguese Jews were given permission to live in the city in 1661. They never utilized this permission.
As of 1689 the first Jewish people settled in the city. They were predominantly originating from nearby Appingedam. About 1700 approximately 50 Jewish people were living in the city. In 1710 Jewish people were banished from the city. The reason for this decision was that they were fencing. Despite this decision some Jewish people remained in the city
The renewed lease of the pawnshop in 1731 is an important event in the history of the Jewish community of Groningen. Mozes Goldsmid from Amsterdam became leaseholder. In the lease freedom of practicing religion was stipulated. He left his local business in the hands of his sons and sons-in-law, among them an ancestor of Jozef Israëls.
In the tracks of Mozes Goldsmid's men of business more Jewish people settled in Groningen. In 1744 the city already counted about 90 Jewish people. In that same year the need arose in the Jewish community to regulate their mutual relations. By-laws were drawn up, which were amended in 1754 and 1767.
In 1776 the outdated regulations were replaced in its entirety by new regulations. In that last mentioned year about 260 Jewish people were yet living in the city. Most of them worked as merchant or pedlar. As of 1728 they were able to obtain citizenship and membership of the merchants guild. At the instance of the Local Authority other guilds admitted Jewish people as member as well in that age.
In 1796 a national law was proclaimed giving Jewish people the same rights as non-Jewish residents of The Netherlands at that time. The City of Groningen counted then 396 Jewish inhabitants. It didn't change their economical situation much, though. After a brief intermezzo during the sovereignty of King Louis Napoleon King William I came into power. The Kingdom of The Netherlands came into being. Many affairs were centralized. The position of Jewish people changed as well. All Jewish people in the Kingdom were member of the founded Dutch Israelitic Communion. Groningen obtained the status of Main Synagogue, meaning that they supervised the smaller Jewish Congregations in the Province. The city was the chair of the Chief Rabbi as well.
In 1815 the Jewish Congregation already counted 754 souls. During the 19th century this number would strongly increase: from 1645 in 1869 to 2628 in 1899. After that year the number of Jewish inhabitants gradually decreased. The increase of Jewish inhabitants had two causes: a high number of births and a settlement surplus. Especially in the last 25 years of the 19th century many Jewish people from de Province settled in the city.
Profession wise things actually didn't change much in the 19th and 20th century. Most of the Jewish people had a profession related to trade: they were either merchant, pedlar, cattle trader, shop owner or stock dealer. A few Jewish people in Groningen were able to make their way into academic professional levels or established companies. Especially the urban textile industry was mostly owned by Jewish people.
In 1941 the Jewish Congregation in Groningen still counted 2843 members, mainly as a result of the forced migration from the rural towns. July 10th , 1942 most men were deported. In the night of Friday October 2nd, 1942 a huge razzia took place, and those who had still lived in the city were put on transport. The very few that were left behind have been deported during 1943.
Near the cemetery at the Iepenhof a monument is located in memory of those who perished. At the Hereweg near Sterrebos is another monument in remembrance of those who were deported. A plaque bearing the names of the (mostly Jewish) employees who perished in the war, is hanging on the wall of the former clothing factory of the brothers Levie. Such plaques are also present in other buildings of the city.
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