Danzig 1939: Treasures of a Destroyed Community

by Joseph Gutmann, Vivian B. Mann, Joy Ungerleider-Mayerson

Published for the Jewish Museum of New York, this illustrated catalog of the Danzig collection accompanied the opening of a major exhibition held in 1980. Published for the Jewish Museum of New York, this illustrated catalog of the Danzig collection accompanied the opening of a major exhibition held in 1980. The book represents decades of research on the ceremonial art and history of the Danzig Jewish community, which, in a unique action in the early spring of 1939, voted to dissolve itself and emigrate rather than submit to the Nazis. The community sent its most precious communal property to New York packed in ten large crates weighing more than two tons. Included are the collection of the museum of the Great Synagogue of Danzig, objects from the Jewish cemetery, and all of the ceremonial objects from Danzig's synagogues and private owners. The proceeds from the sale of these treasures were put into a special bank account to finance the emigration of members of the Danzig Jewish community who were still permitted to leave. This self-liquidation of a community was unprecedented and in effect made Danzig a "city without Jews."The community sent its most precious communal property to New York packed in ten large crates weighing more than two tons. Included are the collection of the museum of the Great Synagogue of Danzig, objects from the Jewish cemetery, and all of the ceremonial objects from Danzig's synagogues and private owners. The proceeds from the sale of these treasures were put into a special bank account to finance the emigration of members of the Danzig Jewish community who were still permitted to leave. This self-liquidation of a community was unprecedented and in effect made Danzig a "city without Jews."

144 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1980