 | Prague Jewish Town and Synagogues Reviews | 1 - 10 of 186 |  |
For some reason, people love scary stories. Creepy tales about monsters and witches and creatures lurking in the dark seem to be part of every culture. The Abominable Snowman, the Loch Ness monster, Dracula, Baba Yaga, the Headless Horseman, Frankenstein – these are just a few that come to mind.
The Golem of Prague is one of these creatures. “Golem” means unformed in Hebrew. According to the legend, Rabbi Judah Loew (1520-1609), known by the Hebrew initials of his name as the “Maharal of Prague,” created a Frankenstein-like man that performed tasks for him. The Golem was a lump of clay that came alive when the name of God (the “Shem”) was inscribed on its forehead. Because all creatures are meant to rest on the Sabbath, Rabbi Loew turned the Golem back into clay every Friday afternoon by erasing the sacred letters on its brow.
One Friday he forgot. Towards evening, the Jews of Prague assembled for services at the Altneuschul (“Old-New Synagogue”) in the Jewish Quarter. Just as they finished reciting Psalm 92, a hymn welcoming the Sabbath, the Golem ran amok, threatening everything in its path. Rabbi Loew was summoned. The sun had not yet set, so technically, the
Sabbath had not begun. The rabbi confronted the monster he had made and wiped the letters off its forehead. The Golem crumbled to dust. The rabbi then ordered Psalm 92 to be sung a second time, which has been the custom in this synagogue ever since.
The Maharal never brought the Golem back to life again. He buried the remains in the attic of the synagogue – a strange looking Hansel and Gretel house with a brown pointy roof - where they lie to this day. Leave a Comment Phone: +420-224 819 456Directions: The Altneuschul is on a winding lane in the old Jewish Quarter, next to the Burial Society building and the Old Jewish Cemetery.Website: http://www.jewishmuseum.cz/
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I took this picture before I realized what I was taking. Prague is a wonderful city to walk around and get lost in. There are so many little side streets and alleys that hold surprises all through the city. I had allowed myself to get lost one afternoon when I came upon this fascinating statue. I had to have a picture of it because it really caught my attention. Later I realized that I had walked into the old Jewish quater of Prague with its historical synagogues. With tales of Franc Kafka, the story of the Golem, and the horrendous history during World War II, the Jewish quarter has much to teach and please the casual tourist. Thats when I realized the statue was the one of Moses that I had read about. Going back to look at it once more, the posture and expression of statue then took on all new meaning. Definately one of those great experiences alone and lost in Prague. Leave a Comment
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Built in 1270, the OLD-NEW SYNAGOGUE or Staranova Synagoga, is the oldest Synagogue in Europe where services are still held regularly.
The entrance fee to the Old-New Synagogue was quite steep in my opinion. It was 290 CZK or about $15.00 CDN as compared to most of the churches which charged 50 CZK. Leave a Comment
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To be able to explore this part of Prague's history you need to by the tickets. You can find them in Pikas Synagogue. There are a few types of tickets but one that includes everything is about 20 euros per person. Leave a Comment
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The Old-New Synagogue, or Staranova Synagoga, is the oldest in Europe. It was built in 1270. This was the site of a terrible massacre during the Jewish pogrom of 1389, when Jewish families seeking refuge inside the synagogue were murdered by Christian zealots.
Inside, various motifs and symbols are repeated 12 times, to represent the 12 tribes of Israel.
The English name, Old-New, is a misinterpretation of the Hebrew, Al Tnay.
Male visitors must cover their heads before going inside. Leave a Comment Directions: In Josefov, near the old Jewish Cemetery. Metro: Starometska Tram: 17, 18
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This was the only place Jews could be buried for 300 years. It began in 1478 and was enlarged over the years. Due to lack of space many people are buried on top of one another, going 12 layers deep. The last burial took place in 1787.
To see the cemetary you will come through Pinkas Synagogue. Flood damage has washed off some of the names that were put on the walls, but efforts are being made to restore them. Founded in 1479 by Rabbi Pinkas, many artifacts have been found indicating how life was for early Jews in Prague. It now is a memorial to those Czech Jews who were taken to concentration camps. The names of those who did not return are painted on the walls. It is open from 9-6pm and the best way to pay for it is to go to the ticket booth and get an inclusive ticket for all the synagogues in the Jewish Quarter you would like to see. Roughly 300KCZ. Leave a Comment
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To the north from the square of the old town, the Jewish Quarter (Josefov) is situated. Jewish ghetto in Prague existed from XIII century as a town. One of the famous places in Josefov is a crossing of Parizska Street and Cervena Street. The oldest European Synagogue is situated here. Staronova Synagogue was built in 1270. The interior is underground because in XIV century the city was raised that to avoid floods. I didn’t go inside. I think I am greedy because the entrance is K 200 (EUR 6.7) and I decided to enjoy outside view only. Leave a Comment
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This synagogue is the oldest in Prague and in Europe - hence a must see for me despite the cost - and its still used by Prague's remaining Jews for worship. Some 56,000 Jews were here in 1939 but now there are only 1,500 or so.
Why the strange name? Well when it was built there was already an Old Synagougew so this one was called the New Synagouge. Then in the 16th century another "New" Synagouge was built so this one was forced to change its name - hence the Old New Synagouge. Ironically enough in the slum clearance of 1900 both the Old and New Synagouges disappeared but the Old New one survived!
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The third stop on the Jewish Museum tour is the third oldest building in the Jewish Quarter. Originally founded by Rabbi Pinkas in the 11 Century, it was reconstructed by the wealthy Horowitz family beginning in 1535. The Horowitz family lost their influence after supporting the fraudulent Moschiach Shlomo Molko, but the synagogue remained active till the Nazi takeover in 1941. After the war, it was dedicated to the memory of the 80000 Jews from Bohemia and Moravia who perished in the Holocaust, first transferred to Terezin and then on to multiple extermination camps.
The walls are inscribed with the names of the victims, their towns, and dates of birth and death in 1 cm. letters, filling essentially all the inner walls of the building. As a memorial to those unknown, the names of the camps are written on both sides of the Holy Ark. The Communists whitewashed the walls with the pretense of repairing leaks in the building, but the very first act of Vaclav Havel as president of Czechoslovakia was to commission the rewriting of the names. It took 2 years and the synagogue was again opened in 1996 on Jewish Holocaust Memorial Day. In 2002, a flood obliterated the names which were again rewritten.
It takes the visitor only a few minutes to see this building, but the memories will last a lifetime. It so completely quantitates the Nazi evil - an unforgettable experience. Leave a Comment
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The Spanish Synagogue, last in the Jewish Museum tour, is unquestionably the most spectacular. The decor is inspired by Spanish and Moorish archictecure and decoration, most notably the Alhambra, as many of Prague's Jews were descendants of Spanish Jews expelled during the Inquisition. In keeping with Islamic tradition, only geometric figures are used - no human or animal forms. The ceilings are covered in bright red, green, and blue with gold margins, images of the Star of David. The walls are purple with gold trim. As this is a Reform synagogue, there is no central prayer stand. Horseshoe mudejar arches surround the torah arc and the organ. The exterior is similarly Moorish with a large central dome, smaller domes along the edges, and horeshoe mudejar arches.
Construction began in 1868 with the freedoms brought about by creation of the Hapsburg Austro-Hungarian Empire. This building is an example of the new freedom and the assimilation of the Jews into their milieu, which would last for 70 years prior to the Nazi takeover. It is on the site of Prague's first synagogue.
The historical displays are on the second floor with minimal signage - the museum here details life from the Mid-19th Century through the Nazi and Communist periods to the new freedoms and renovation of the buildings housing the museum. The synagogue was closed for 20 years and re-opened in 1998 on the 130th Anniversary of its construction.
The included images display the interior and exterior of this beautiful synagogue. Leave a Comment
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