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Durmenach Ceremony to be held on Sunday 8 November 2009

Information compiled by Jean Bloch

The ceremony is being organized by the Municipality of Durmenach, incorporating the whole framework of this town.

All the victims of past wars will be honoured, and it is the wish of this municipality that a special tribute will be made to the Jewish community Durmenach.

Many regional figures are expected to attend this exceptional event. GenAmi has invested heavily in the preparation and the success of this day.

For the part that concerns us, the program is as follows:

10h10am – Formation of a street procession starting from the church, with fanfare, flags, veterans’ associations, villagers and the participants of the ceremony. The Short route (200m) is to the place of the communal home.

10h15am - Unveiling of the monument in memory of the Jewish community of Durmenach. The text engraved on marble is as follows:

In memory of the large Jewish community that settled in Durmenach from the fifteenth century.
The Jewish community, hit by the "Juderumpel" of 1848, anti-Jewish riots in which 75 Jewish homes were burned, took an active part in the development of the town in the nineteenth century. Representing over 56% of the population in 1846, the Jewish community exhibited a permanent political commitment within the municipal council with a mayor, Aaron Meyer, and many councillors. It showed a spirit of initiative in acquiring a structured rabbinate from 1802 to 1910, a Jewish school, synagogue and cemetery.

Civil and religious speeches.

10h45am - ceremony at the monument to the dead. Inauguration of two plaques, one in memory of victims of war 1939/1945, the other to the memory of victims of the Holocaust.

In memory of those who disappeared. Candles of a menorah of 6 branches (6 branches to represent 6 million people) will be lit by victims' relatives.

Wreath-laying ceremony. Patriotic songs. Prayer for the dead (Kaddish).

12h00 - 'Vin d'honneur' offered by the municipality, the municipal home.

13h00 - ‘Banquet Republican’ (kosher meals).

Afternoon - Visit of the Jewish cemetery of Durmenach.

Notes:

  • The organization of the tribute to Jewish victims and their families, is the responsibility of the Consistory and the Chief Rabbi of the Upper Rhine.

  • If participating in the ‘Banquet Republican’ you will need to confirm this in September.

  • This program is likely to have a few minor modifications.
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