Scandinavia Special Interest Group (SIG)

Aalborg

Aron Jacob (Jacobsen), a merchant from Frederiksstad in Schleswig first got permission in 1799 settle live and work in Viborg, where he and some others were permitted to hold religious services in a rented room.

In 1807 he moved to Aalborg and together with the merchant Henrik Wulff Bendix he applied for permission to have a sużnagogue in Aalborg. However, at the same time Rafael Hartvig Cohn also living in Aalborg sent in a similar application. The chancellery would not decide in the matter before the two parties came to an agreement.

At that time there were only a few Jewish families in Aalborg, but the community grew fast and in 1834 there were 119 persons, in 1854 123 persons. In 1854 the beautiful synagogue in Aalborg was built and the "Jewish priest" - as he is called officially - Salomon Mielziner begins his 35 years long service for the community.

A decline set in - as in many other provincial towns - and from 1890 there were no more services held in the synagogue. In 1924 the building was donated to the city of Aalborg, which used it for the City Archives (Stadsarkivet) for about 20 years.

The 19. March 1945 the building was set aflame by some members of the "Schalburg Korps", and the former synagogue burned to the ground.

The Cemetery (1810-1968)

The first burial in the Aalborg cemetery was of Aron Jacob's (Jacobsen's) little daughter, Phillippine Jacobsen, who died the 14. February 1810.

149 burials have since taken place here - as far as is known. The last burial was the 12. June 1968.

Aron Jacobsen's tombstone
Aron's wife: Hanne Israel's tombstone

Back of tombstone

Front of tombstone

Front of tombstone

Back of tombstone

The below translation of the Hebrew inscription to Danish was made by Jul. Margolinsky.
A translation into English will be attempted later.
Warm thanks Tom Brøndsted who donated these photographs to Scandinavia SIG.

Aharon skal gå ind i Helligdommen.
Her hviler en mand, der udførte mange
gode Gerninger for Israel indenfor sin
Menighed. Han bragte deres Børn ind
under Pagten ved Omskærelsens Tegn,
rundhåndet uddelte han af sin Formue,
han indrettede en Begravelsesplads,
som dækker over de døde. Nu gemmes
her hans eget afsjælede Legeme, men
hans Sjæl er steget op til det høje.

Det er Menighedsforstanderen, den
ærede Herr Aharon fra Frederikstad,
som døde Natten til
Fredag 7. Schwat 5591

En kvinde der frygter Herre - hun skal prises.
En pryd var hun for sin ægtemage hele
sit liv, hendes dage blev afkortet,
hun svandt hen og gik bort, men hendes
sjæl fryde sig nu ved Guds nåde.

Det er den brave kvinde, Fru Hendel,
Menighedsforstander Aharon Frederikstads
hustru, som døde Torsdagen, 1.
nymånedsdag og blev begravet
Fredagen, 2. nymånedsdag Ellul 5590


* * *
Købmand Aron Jacobsen, død 21.1. 1831

* * *
Købmand Aron Jacobsens 2. hustru, Hannchen, født Israel, død 21.8. 1830

The first line of the inscription with reference to his given name is a quote from 3. Mosebog 16.3. The name is also found in the first letters of the inscription.

The Hebrew name of the deceased, Hendel, is found in line 2.-4. of the verse. The heading is from Proverbs 31.

Copyright © 1999-2003 Scandinavia SIG - Reprinting or copying of any of the material on the Scandinavia SIG Website is not allowed without prior permission from the Scandinavia SIG Coordinator and Tom Brøndsted Compiled and updated 21.5.2004