Overview

Hype:

The New Synagogue Berlin was built in the mid-19th century in an elaborate Moorish-Byzantine style and symbolized the prominence and confidence of Berlin’s Jewish community at the time. With its striking golden dome and richly decorated exterior, it stood as one of the largest and most impressive synagogues in Europe before the Nazi era.

During Kristallnacht in 1938, the synagogue was attacked and later suffered heavy damage during World War II. After the war, most of the ruined building was demolished, leaving only the front façade and dome. These surviving elements became powerful reminders of destruction, loss, and survival within the city’s landscape.

Since reopening in the 1990s as the Centrum Judaicum, the site functions as a museum and cultural foundation. It offers permanent and temporary exhibitions, educational programs, and archives that document Jewish history in Berlin, serving both as a place of remembrance and as a center for learning and dialogue.

Time:

Fees: Admission

Recommended Ages:

	0-3
	4-11
	12-19
	20-49
	50-69
	70+

Recommended Months to Visit:

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Links: https://centrumjudaicum.de/en/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Synagogue_(Berlin)

Location

Closest City or Region: Berlin, Germany

Coordinates: 52.524917, 13.394179

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July 4, 2025 Trip Report

By Jeremy Dye

Trip Members

Jeremy Dye, Tara Dye, Savannah Dye, Madilyn Dye, Cooper Dye,

Story

We had planned to visit a concentration camp memorial, but we accidentally followed directions to a travel agency instead of the site. Because the actual memorial was more than an hour away, we changed plans.

We walked around the corner to the Neue Synagoge (New Synagogue) and museum. The 19th-century building was heavily damaged in 1945 and later partially restored; the museum shows the restoration photos, and the building deliberately leaves some restored sections unpainted so you can see original damaged stone next to repaired work. The thing I didn't like about that museum was that they didn't let you take any pictures.

Pictures