Exhibition "The Mikveh of Chemnitz – Early Jewish Finds in Saxony"

Starting December 18, 2025, the exhibition "The Mikveh of Chemnitz – Early Jewish Finds in Saxony" will open in the foyer of the smac – State Museum of Archaeology Chemnitz. The small exhibition presents the mikveh discovered during archaeological excavations in Chemnitz in 2022 – a ritual bath used for Jewish religious practices. It is complemented by additional objects related to Judaism from the 14th to 18th centuries.

The Mikveh of Chemnitz
The central component of the exhibition is the colored 3D model of the Chemnitz mikveh, scaled at 1:10, created by the Saxon State Office for Archaeology (LfA). It is accompanied by information about the discovery context, conservation measures, and the ritual use of such baths in Judaism. The find of the Chemnitz mikveh is particularly remarkable as it is the first evidence that Jewish life existed in Chemnitz as early as the 18th century. This is not a given, as the settlement of Jews was prohibited in Saxony between the 15th and 19th centuries, with few exceptions for Leipzig and Dresden.

Jewish Life in Saxony
The oldest traces of Jews date back to the 11th century from Meissen. There was a Jewish community here with a synagogue and a Jewish cemetery. Other early settlements are documented in Freiberg, Torgau, Zwickau, Görlitz, Leipzig, and Dresden. In 1349, during the pogroms associated with the plague, the entire Jewish population in Saxony (and far beyond) was murdered and expelled. Cemeteries, buildings, and property were transferred to the cities and their populations. A settlement ban for Jews was imposed, leading to the cessation of Jewish life. It was not until 1868 that Jews were again able to settle in Saxony and openly practice their faith.

Early Jewish Finds in Saxony
On the occasion of the mikveh exhibition, the smac is taking the opportunity to gather further early finds related to the Jewish faith. These items date from the 14th to 18th centuries, during the time when the settlement of Jews in Saxony was prohibited.

Free admission
Open: Tuesday – Sunday 10 AM – 6 PM, Thursday 10 AM – 8 PM
Closed: December 24/25/31 and January 1.