Jewish cultural heritage in Aargau

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The canton of Aargau is especially significant for the history of Jewish people in Switzerland. The communities of Endingen and Lengnau in Surbtal were the centre of Jewish life in the country for more than two hundred years. Jewish families moved to these areas when they were driven out of the cities and when, at the beginning of the 17^th century, Endingen and Lengnau were the only places in the whole of Switzerland where they were permitted to settle on a permanent basis. For a period of time, Jewish people accounted for a large proportion of the population of both communities, which came to be known as “Jew villages”. This piece of history remains a part of the canton’s intangible cultural heritage, and is commemorated in a variety of ways. Since 2009 the story of Jewish people in Surbtal has been told on the “Jewish Heritage Path Endingen-Lengnau”, and synagogues and other important buildings are open to visitors. Charles Lewinsky’s novel “Melnitz” takes readers to the significant places of local Jewish history. Furthermore, recent years have seen “Jewish Culture Week” in September, held primarily in Baden, and Endigen and Baden have active Israeli culture communities. In these ways and in their private lives, followers of Judaism, just like followers of any other religion, uphold many different traditions according to personal beliefs.