The Jewish Community in DIJON
by Jean BLOCH
Synagogue of Dijon (1873-1879), architect: Henri Sirodot with the advices of Viollet-le-Duc
Photo & comments from the beautiful book of Dominique Jarassé « L’âge d’or des synagogues », Ed. Herscher, 1991 |
The Jewish community of Dijon was born effectively after the French Revolution.
The first Jewish birth was recorded on 28 May 1790: Cerf CAEN, son of Henry and Rose CROMBAK from WITTENHEIM.
This birth clearly illustrates the two characteristics of this Jewish community:
- Families ares issued essentially from the Haut-Rhin department,
- The Alsatian and Lorran names are strongly distorted.
By examples, KAHN and KATZ become CAEN or CAIN,
GREILSAMMER become KRASCHEIMACK,
SIERCK become CIRQUE,
ULLMANN become OULMAN or HOULMAN,
REINAU become RAYMOND or RENON,
WORMS become VORMESE,
SCHWAB and SCHWOB become CHEVABE or SUABE,
Etc….
In time some of the original names return, in contradiction with the official Dijon records. Thus the CIRQUE family restore their SIERCK name around 1850, completed by: "dit SIRQUE". It is the same for the SCHWAB family and some others.
The magnificent synagogue neo-Moorish in style and modelled on the Parisian synagogue of rue de la Victoire was not built until 1879.
Nevertheless the civil records of the city of DIJON show the existence of a place of worship with marguillier (beadle) from 1810.
From 1857 we see in the civil records the presence of a rabbi who came from METZ, Mahir (Meyer) CHARLEVILLE.
Another peculiarity of this community is the temporary and regular presence of Alsatian maidens who came to Dijon to give birth to "enfants illégitimes".
Between 1790 and 1865, the civil records of Dijon show the strength of the Jewish community:
- 147 marriages,
- 641 births,
- 314 deaths.
All civil records of DIJON are available on the Côte d'Or Department website.
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