Westend Synagoge

Westend Synagogue stands in Frankfurt as an architectural landmark and a centre for the city’s Jewish community. Architect Franz Roeckle designed the building in Jugendstil. Its forms combine Jugendstil with Assyrian and Egyptian influences, giving the exterior a distinctive architectural language. Blue and gold colours shape the synagogue’s interior. The main hall originally admitted men and women, with seating arranged separately, reflecting a specific religious arrangement. The synagogue survived severe wartime damage without losing its structure. During the November pogroms, the fire brigade extinguished the flames, while the building later served as wartime storage. Postwar restoration reopened the synagogue for communal use. A comprehensive restoration led by Henryk Isenberg recovered the building’s original character and its elaborate nave decoration. The Westend Synagogue hosts Orthodox services for Frankfurt’s Jewish community. The building became Frankfurt’s first major synagogue beyond the historic city walls.