In the Duchy of Prussia, Jewish community life began with the "Great Elector", who promoted their economic activities and permitted a first prayer room in Königsberg (today Kaliningrad) in 1680. In 1812 Jews were granted Prussian citizenship, freedom of trade and settlement. They were not granted full civil rights until 1869, making Prussia more liberal than other states.
The Königsberg community grew therefore rapidly to 5,000 people (3.5% of the city's population). It was known as the centre of the Jewish Enlightenment. Important representatives of German liberalism, scientists and entrepreneurs came from East Prussian Jewish families. They were, however, discriminated against in their social advancement, which is why many converted to Christianity.
Anti-Semitism was for a long time less pronounced in East Prussia than in other regions of the Reich. After 1933, however, Jews were disenfranchised, persecuted and finally murdered here as well. Of the more than 3,000 Jewish East Prussians in 1939, only a few survived.
Illustrations:
1.) The merchant and chairman of the city council Max Arendt (1843-1913) with his granddaughter Hannah, the later philosopher (1906-1975). In 1910 her parents moved from orthodox Hanover back to the liberal Reform Judaism of Königsberg, a centre of this movement along with Breslau and Berlin. Even in 1964, after 30 years of exile, she said: "In my way of thinking and judging I still come from Königsberg".
2.) The new synagogue in the Lindenstraße in Königsberg opposite the cathedral island
The speech given by mayor Karl Brinkmann in 1896 at the inauguration of the synagogue verifies the natural co-existence of Christians and Jews, but also addresses prejudices that were believed to have been overcome:
"Long since eliminated, but deeply rooted views are now rearing their ugly heads again in public. False concepts of honour and sense of honour are awakened again and defy better and more enlightened opinions..... The lessons and experiences of earlier times are forgotten. The great Prussian king Frederick II seems to have lived in vain and Lessing to have written his play Nathan der Weise (Nathan the Wise) in vain... With even more pride, however, I would like to assert that the entire citizenship of Königsberg is joyfully taking part in your celebrations... Here in Königsberg the confessors of all faiths and religions live side by side and together in peace and harmony. …. Receptive to any further development of the human race, glowing for art and science, filled with true and genuine humanity, obedient to the laws of the state and loyal to their king, this is how I, and not only I, see in my mind’s eye the same Jew who used to be exiled and whose rights only blinded fanatics want to curtail – and this is also the way he must appear to everyone who only wants to be just".