Kristallnacht Synagogue Key Returns to Bielefeld After 86 Years

The key, a relic from the destroyed synagogue, symbolizes the enduring legacy and revitalization of Bielefeld's Jewish community.

Marianne Bern, a survivor of the Kristallnacht pogrom, preserved the key from her family's synagogue in Bielefeld, Germany, which was destroyed in 1938.
The key and a Torah scroll were the only items to survive the fire set by the Nazis during Kristallnacht.
Jennifer Bern-Vogel, Marianne's daughter, returned the key to Bielefeld, where it will be displayed in the town's history museum and current synagogue.
The return of the key is a significant event for Bielefeld's Jewish community, which has grown from 35 to 450 members since 2000.
The key serves as an educational tool for the community, many of whom are originally from the former Soviet Union, to learn about their historical roots.