History
Nieuweschans is located in the East of the Province of Groningen. The village owes its existence to the foundation of a fortification at the boarder between The Netherlands and Germany. In 1882 these fortifications were broken down and the canals were filled up. The first Jewish people settled in the first half of the 17th century in the village.
Until mid 18th century the village would never house more than two Jewish families. Most of the time they didn't live there very long. That would change with the arrival of Gerson Arents from nearby East Frisian Stapelmoor in 1750. As of that year Jewish people lived in the village continuously.
The new comers were predominantly originating from East Frisian villages at the other side of the boarder. The settlement of Gerson Arents met resistance of the settled inhabitants. Without success they tried to convince the authorities that the settlement of Jewish people harmed their livelihood.
For their religious needs and wants the Jewish people of Nieuweschans had to depend mostly on themselves. Larger Jewish Congregations were quite far away.
In 1813 the Jewish community in Nieuweschans obtained the status of Jewish Congregation. Besides Nieuweschans the Jewish people of the East Frisian villages Bunde and Stapelmoor were part of it. As of 1821 it has been a so-called Branch Church of Circle Synagogue Winschoten
In 1809 the village counted 25 Jewish people, in 1849 their number had increased to 61, and after that year the number of Jewish people decreased to eight due to social and economical circumstances.
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