Mainz is the administrative town of the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate. For eleven centuries, between 780 and 1802, it was the center of the Archduke of Mainz, whose archbishop was one of the four Holy Roman Imperial Princes and Electors. 

Johannes Gutenberg, an inventor of book printing, is the most famous figure of the town. Mainz is sometimes called the Gutenberg City, and the local university is named after him. The town’s rich history was marked by its many monuments. However, most of them were seriously damaged or completely destroyed during World War II. Along with the remaining landmarks, they attract many tourists to the city and its surroundings. The wine making tradition in the area is also one of their main attractions.

Mainz is located in central Germany on the western bank of the Rhine in Rhineland-Palatinate. South of the city lies the Rheinhessen Pfalz, which is famous for its wine. On the other side of the Rhine, lies Hessen‘s administrative city of Wiesbaden. The two cities are very closely connected and today the greater area is called Mainz-Wiesbaden. The main transport link between the two is a bridge in the city centre, built after WWII. It is named after Theodor Heuss, the first Federal President of post-war Germany.

The first mention of local settlements dates back to the original estate of Roman legionnaire Moguntiacum, founded in 13 BC (older sources refer to 38 BC). This homestead was part of the Roman Empire for almost 500 years. From 780 to 1803, Mainz became the headquarters of Archbishops and Imperial princes. Archbishop Siegfried III from Eppstein proclaimed Mainz a free city in 1244. It retained this title until 1462. This period is also considered the most prosperous time of the city. During World War II, Mainz was a frequent target of bombing due to significant industrial production.

It is because of Johannes Gutenberg that Mainz is well-known. , His invention of the printing press in the 15th Century gave the town a great reputation. Many important people often visit the city. There has been state visits in the past from figures such as Queen Elizabeth II of England, Pope John Paul II, US President George W. Bush and his son President George W. Bush, as well as the French President Jacques Chirac.

The Jewish community of Mainz belongs to one of the oldest and most important not only in Germany, but in all of Ashkenazi Europe. It has a special place in Jewish history.  During the 11th to 13th centuries, it was a spiritual and cultural center of Medieval Jewry known as "Jerusalem on the Rhine“, together with nearby Worms and Speyer.

In 1220, the Jewish communities of Speyer, Worms and Mainz were merged into a bond called the ShUM (combing the initial Hebrew letters of these three cities). This was considered the central authority in legal and religious matters for all Ashkenazi Jews. It had its own rite and issued a set of regulations titled “The Takkanot Shum“. This held much authority over the Jews throughout Germany and had permanently influenced Ashkenazi culture. 

The Jewish communities of ShUM maintained this privileged position until the middle of the 14th century. Persecution occurred after the Black Death spread there in 1349, ending their golden era.  The cities of ShUM hnever regained their former glory. 

However, Jewish life still thrived. Before World War II, about 2300 Jews lived in Mainz. There were synagogues, schools, organizations, and sport clubs. More than half of its Jewish population was murdered by the Nazis during the Shoah. Synagogues were burned out during the Kristallnacht.

However, the Jewish community in Mainz was reestablished after the war, and it grew slowly but gradually in the post-war era. After nearly 72 years, the community could celebrate the Jewish New Year in their own synagogue. It was ceremonially consecrated in 2010 and was attended by a number of guests. These included Charlotte Knobloch, head of the Central Council of the Jews in Germany, Israeli Ambassador Yoram Ben-Zeev, and Federal President Christiane Wulff. It is located in the same place as the former main shul was. It was destroyed by the Nazis during the kristallnacht in November 1938.

The new synagogue is a modern architectural complex that features a blue-green glazed ceramic facade. It has a strong silhouette to recall the Hebrew letters of the word "kedusha". There is an adjacent community center including a social hall with a capacity of 450 seats, a mikve, a kosher kitchen, a kindergarten, an ulpan, a social department, a library, offices and flats. The funnel-shaped roof of the social hall resembles the shofar,  a symbol of communication with the Divine sphere. 

The author of the project, Cologne architect Manuel Herz, got international recognition for his work. The Neue Zürcher Zeitung considers this is the most interesting synagogue project on a global scale since the time of the famous architect Louise Kahn.

For Jewish travelers on a kosher river cruise on the River Rhine, the town of Mainz is absolutely one destination that they should not miss.