The centre of the second Jewish community
Station 17
The area behind the town hall, now used as a car park, was densely built-up until the Second World War. By 1360 at the latest, some of the houses were inhabited by Jews. The town’s stables and mint were also located here for a time.
In this area, in the immediate vicinity of the synagogue, stood the community well and the home of the school bell-ringer, the synagogue attendant. The neighbouring house, initially occupied by Loszer of Liegnitz, who hailed from Silesia, was taken over by the Jewish community by 1370 at the latest and was referred to as a dance hall (tanczhuys) from 1388 onwards. This was likely the Jewish community hall, where weddings and other celebrations were held. The eminent rabbi Israel of Brno therefore referred to it as the ‘wedding house’ in the period after 1400.
