In the 17th century , Halberstadt had one of the largest Jewish communities in central Europe . At the time , nearly one in twelve of the town 's inhabitants , almost 700 people , were Jewish . Notable amongst them was Berend Lehmann ( 1661 – 1730 ) . One example of Lehmann 's work was the impressive Baroque synagogue he financed , which was completed in 1712 . In November 1938 , after the '' Kristallnacht '' pogroms , the Nazi authorities forced the Jewish community to demolish the building , as the attack on it was said to have left it in danger of collapsing
Kristallnacht
Kristallnacht
Halberstadt