Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Old-New Synagogue (Staronová Synagóga)
For more than 700 years, this has been the most important syna-
gogue and the central building in Josefov. Standing like a bomb-
hardened bunker, it feels as though it has survived plenty of hard
times. Stairs take you down to the street level of the 13th century
and into the Gothic interior. Built in 1270, it's the oldest syna-
gogue in Eastern Europe. Snare an attendant, who is likely to love
showing visitors around. The separate, steep admission (see “Cost
and Hours,” below) keeps many away, but even if you decide not to
pay, you can see the exterior and a bit of the interior. (Go ahead...
pop in and crane your cheapskate neck.)
The lobby (down the stairs, where you show your ticket) has
two fortified old lockers—in which the most heavily taxed com-
munity in medieval Prague stored
its money in anticipation of the
taxman's arrival. As 13th-century
Jews were not allowed to build,
the synagogue was erected by
Christians (who also built the
St. Agnes Convent nearby). The
builders were good at four-ribbed
vaulting, but since that resulted
in a cross, it wouldn't work for a
synagogue. Instead, they made the ceiling using clumsy five-ribbed
vaulting.
The interior is pure 1300s. The Shrine of the Ark in front is
the focus of worship. The holiest place in the synagogue, it holds
the sacred scrolls of the Torah. The old rabbi's chair to the right
remains empty (notice the thin black chain) out of respect. The
red banner is a copy of the one that the Jewish community carried
through town during medieval parades. Notice the yellow-pointed
hat within the Star of David (on the banner), which the pope
ordered all Jewish men to wear in 1215. Twelve is a popular num-
ber (e.g., windows), because it symbolizes the 12 tribes of Israel.
The horizontal slit-like windows are an 18th-century addition,
allowing women to view the male-only services.
Cost and Hours:
The Old-New Synagogue requires a separate
200-Kč admission that includes a worthwhile 10-minute tour—
ask about it (Sun-Thu 9:30-18:00, Fri 9:30-17:00 or until sunset,
closed Sat). Admission also includes entry to the Art Nouveau
Jerusalem Synagogue
in the New Town (see page 83).
Maisel Synagogue (Maiselova Synagóga)
This synagogue was built as a private place of worship for the
Maisel family during the 16th-century Golden Age of Prague's
Jews. Maisel, the f inancier of the Habsburg king, had lots of
