In the Middle Ages, Jewish people formed an integral part of everyday urban life. There were celebrations and daily encounters – with Christian and Jewish people living in close proximity and, at times, also on friendly terms.

At the same time, the Middle Ages were a time of harsh persecution. From 1348 onwards, Jewish people were accused in many places of being responsible for the ‘Black Death’, the plague. They served as scapegoats for the crises and problems of the time. Massacres, flight, and expulsion often followed.

Constance was a centre of Jewish life on Lake Constance. Jews lived in the city centre and had a synagogue. Plague-related pogroms almost completely destroyed the community in 1349. But a new community slowly emerged in the late 14th century. Despite the constant threat of persecution, the Jewish community in Constance experienced a final heyday during the Council(1414-18).