Jewish Museum in Prague – Klausen Synagogue (Židovské muzeum – Klausová synagoga)

Contacts

• Jewish Museum in Prague – Klausen Synagogue (Židovské muzeum – Klausová synagoga)
• U Starého hřbitova 1
• 110 00 Praha 1- Josefov

• +420 222 749 211

• http://www.jewishmuseum.cz
• office@jewishmuseum.cz

Object history

Klausen Synagogue – Jewish Museum

A building made up of three parts, seclusions (klaus = cell, from latin claustrum), was built on a land plot purchased by Mordechai Maisel, then the primate. The seclusions, cells, gave the synagogue its name. One part was founded by rabbi Löw for the talmud college, the second part was a chapel, and the third part was designed for a ritual spa (mikve) and for the care of the sick. In 1689 the entire object burnt down, and it was thanks to the superior Šalamoun Chališ Kohen that in 1694, a new synagogue, this time single, was built in an early-Baroque style, with single-aisle auditorium premises with richly pargetted wagon vault with lunettes. It was originally named New Klausen School. It was the largest synagogue in the ghetto, the second main synagogue of the Prague Jewish community, and the synagogue of the Prague burial society (institution taking care of Jewish burials and cemeteries, of the sick, the elderly, and the dying).

It was modified in 1882 – 3 by architect Bedřich Münzberger, and again after 1921. During occupation, the interior facilities were destroyed. The synagogue went through new reconstructions in 1979 – 84 and 1995 – 96. Only the window shapes were preserved from the original building, and an inscription plate on the pillar, dating the origin of the synagogue back to 1694. The Jewish museum has its fixed exposition here, named Jewish traditions and habits.

Source: https://www.prague.eu/en/object/places/659/jewish-museum-in-prague-klausen-synagogue-zidovske-muzeum-klausova-synagoga