Spanish Synagogue Museum and Concert Hall
The Spanish Synagogue in Prague is a striking example of Spanish-Moorish architecture and in stark contrast to the other synagogues in the Jewish quarter which are less opulent. The facade is an eye-catcher and the interior is impressive, with elaborate decorations, intricately designed ceilings, beautiful pillars and stained glass windows. The synagogue is no longer a place of worship but is now a museum and concert hall and part of the Jewish Museum.
Spanish Synagogue with Moorish Architecture
Moorish arabesques, gilded and poly-chrome motifs with a dazzling combination of rich green, blue and red tones make this synagogue one of the most beautiful in Europe. The interior is magnificent. The eye-catcher is the Torah Ark and central dome is inspired by Spanish architecture.
Spanish Synagogue: the Permanent Exhibition
The permanent exhibition tells about the Jewish history in the Czech Lands, from the Enlightenment at the end of the 18th century to the present.
During the Enlightenment, attempts were made to revive cultural life through education. When Emperor Joseph II abolished the wearing of Jewish badges at the end of the 18th century, new opportunities arose for Jews in the fields of education, finance, industry and agriculture.
Part of the exhibition is dedicated to the renovation and modernization of the old Jewish ghetto. At the end of the nineteenth century, the demolition of the many closely packet together slum houses began. The street level was raised, water pipes were installed and the maze of streets made way for wide avenues. Only the six synagogues and the Old Jewish Cemetery are reminders of the former old Jewish quarter.
Attention is paid to the relationship between the former Czechoslovakia and Israel. How the secret police kept a close watch on Czech Jews during the rigid communist era of normalization in the 1970s. Culture and the lives of children in the Terezin concentration camp is another theme that is highlighted.
Exhibited Artefacts
The star exhibit is a drinking set from 1902, a prime example of Art Nouveau-style made by the Moser glass company, and a Hanukkah lamp from 1873, rare because it is so large. There are also silver Torah pointers used in the synagogue during the reading from the Torah.
Black and white photos show what the Jewish quarter looked like before it was demolished. Furthermore, there are copies of the Nuremberg Laws and there is a book of anti-Jewish legislation from 1940. In the section on Terezin, banknotes given to Jews living in the Terezin ghetto are on display. They were pieces of paper that were supposed to give the idea that life in Terezin was not different from other cities.
Winter Oratory and the Silver Collection
Adjacent to the synagogue is a functionalist-style building from 1935 which served as a Jewish hospital until the start of the Second World War. The Synagogue used this building as a winter oratory.
Today, silver objects are on display here, including Torah crowns, Torah shields, Torah bookmarks, Sabbath candlesticks and Hanukkah lamps. The silver collection of the Jewish Museum includes more than 6,000 objects, but not all of these are on display. Although many objects were made in Prague and Brno, some pieces come from Germany, Austria and the Silesia region of the Czech Republic.
All these artifacts were important in the religious, social, and personal lives of Jews, and all objects came from synagogues, Jewish households, or Jewish associations in the Czech lands before World War II. The earliest pieces date from 1600, but the majority dates from the 18th and 19th centuries.
TIP: attend a concert and admire the interior of the Spanish Synagogue at the same time. Get tickets online.
Address: Vězeňská 1, Josefov, Prague
Opening hours: 9am – 4.30pm, closed on Fridays
The Spanish synagogue is part of the Jewish Museum. Free entry with Cool Pass
Next article: Jews in Prague: a short journey through history
Previous article: Jewish Museum