Jewish Quarters Tour

On Monday, 10/4, my English professor had arranged a tour of the nearby Jewish Quarters since we have an upcoming chapter on Jewish themed literature.

First off, was The Old-New Synagogue. Built in early Gothic style around the middle of the 13th century, it became known as this when other synagogues were later built in Prague. The main hall is the only existing medieval type hall of its kind.

 Old-New Synagogue

Then we passed by King Solomon, a kosher restaurant, that Michelle Obama dined at during a past visit to Prague.

King Solomon Restaurant

Then we went to the Pinkas Synagogue, which has entire walls covered in small type with thousands of names of Holocaust victims. Then, in the Klausen Synagogue, which was the largest synagogue in Prague's Jewish Town and served as the Bural Society. Outside is the Old Jewish cemetery, where thousands are buried. The Pinkas Synagogue was turned into a memorial after WWII to the Jews of Bohemia and Moravia murdered by the Nazis. The Old Jewish cemetery has 12,000 tombstones and several more buried. The oldest tombstone marks poet and scholar Avigdor Kara from 1439. Most prominently, are also Mordechai Maisel (Mayor of the Jewish Town, 1601), David Gans (Renaissance scholar, 1613), Josef Solomon Delmedigo (scholar and historian, 1655), and David Oppenheim (rabbi and Hebrew manuscripts collector, 1736).

Pinkas Synagogue

Old Jewish Cemetery

Next was the Spanish synagogue, and another gallery with walls covered with the text of true life stores. Built in a Moorish style, the synagogue includes an exhibition on the "History of the Jews in Bohemia and Moravia from Emancipation to the Present." And, next was the Ceremonial Hall, which is now an exhibition space. The exhibition is of "Jewish Customs and Traditions."

 Spanish Synagogue

Ceremonial Hall

Jewish street vendors down the street

And, finally we went to the Maisel Synagogue. Originally built in a Renaissance style, it has seen been renovated to a psuedo-Gothic style. It now is used by the Jewish Museum as exhibition space and a depository.

(I was not allowed to take pictures of the interiors of any of these buildings.)