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Over the centuries, Jewish citizens have played a prominent part in the development of Leipzig. It was back in the 13th century that Jews were first recorded in the city. But although everyone realized the importance of Jewish merchants for the Leipzig trade fairs, they were often subject to repressions. In 1839 Salomon Veith became the first Leipzig Jew to be granted civil rights. And the Jewish religious community was formally constituted in 1847. Between 1843 and 1867 the number of Jewish inhabitants rose from 136 to 1,148. Immigrants came above all from Russia, Poland and Galicia. By 1925 the Jewish population in Leipzig had reached some 13,000, making it the sixth biggest Jewish community in Germany.Under the Nazis, of course, the harassment of Jews attained horrific levels. Many managed to escape abroad with the help of family and friends. However, thousands were also deported to concentration camps, from which only few returned in 1945. In 1988 the Jewish community in Leipzig still only counted just 35 members. Since 1990 Jewish immigrants, mainly from Russia, have settled again in Leipzig. Nowadays there are about 1,200 Jewish community members in the city, thus making it the biggest in Saxony. | 
