OLD NEW SYNAGOGUE

Description

Essentials about the Old New Synagogue in brief

The Old New Synagogue in the Josefov district is the oldest undestroyed synagogue in Europe and one of the earliest Gothic buildings in Prague. In this respect, it is worth a visit for all those interested in Gothic architecture and the Jewish faith.

The name “Old New Synagogue”

There are a number of explanations and legends about the origin of the unusual name of the synagogue. The name is said to derive from the Hebrew “al tenai”, which means “on condition that”. Angels are said to have brought stones from the Jerusalem Temple when the Old New Synagogue was built, “on condition that” they would be given out again when the Messiah arrived and the Temple was rebuilt. According to another interpretation, however, when the ground was dug for the construction of the synagogue, the remains of an even older synagogue were found. The “new” synagogue was then built on the foundation of the “old” one.

The history of the Old New Synagogue

The synagogue was built in the last third of the 13th century in early Gothic style and is still the religious center of Prague’s Jews. The building has withstood several city fires, Jewish pogroms and also the redevelopment of the district. Unlike even older synagogues in Europe (for example, in Erfurt and Worms), the Old New Synagogue was never destroyed and has been preserved in its original state to this day. Even during the occupation of Prague by Nazi Germany, the synagogue was not destroyed, as the Nazis planned to turn the synagogue into a museum of the exterminated Jewish race.

The Old New Synagogue was always the main synagogue of the Prague Jewish community and enjoyed corresponding prestige. The most important rabbis of the city worked here. Along with the High Synagogue and the Jerusalem Synagogue, the Old New Synagogue is one of the three synagogues in Prague where services are still held today. The nearby Klaus and Maisel Synagogues, on the other hand, serve as religious museums.

According to one legend, the loft contains the clay remains of the so-called “golem” (a mute, human-like creature formed from clay, often of immense size and strength, capable of carrying out orders), which Rabbi Löw is said to have animated with his spiritual power 400 years ago. According to another legend, angels transformed into doves protected the synagogue from conflagrations, so that it was preserved until today, although there were several major fires in the Jewish city. In fact, the Old New Synagogue owes its preservation to the fact that it always stood alone and isolated and was never connected to any other structure. Because of this, and also because of its very solid construction, it was able to withstand all the vicissitudes of the centuries.

The architecture of the Old New Synagogue

The isolated building of the Old New Synagogue has massive walls with buttresses for reinforcement and only narrow windows. On three sides it is surrounded by low annexes containing vestibule and women’s nave. The floor level is lower than the street level as a sign of humility. The vestibule, dating from the middle of the 13th century, with its pointed barrel vault, is the oldest part of the building. At the end of the 13th century, a two-nave hall was added. The two stepped brick gables from the 15th century are striking on the facades.

The interior of the Old New Synagogue

The high main room with an elaborate five-rib vault consisting of six five-capped vault bays is supported by two octagonal pillars. The twelve lancet windows represent the twelve tribes of Israel. Particularly valuable are the tympanum with a depiction of vine leaves and vines above the richly profiled portal, the tympanum above the Torah shrine with carved leaf ornaments, and the vault keystones.

In the center of the hall – between the two octagonal columns – a platform supports the bima, the lectern at which the Torah is read aloud, surrounded by a Gothic wrought-iron grille. On the east wall is the Torah shrine, covered with parochet and kaporet, and in front of it is the Ner Tamid. To the right is the stone lectern for the cantor.

The seats are still placed along the walls around the bima as they were in the original state. Behind them, niches were left open in the walls for storing books and prayer utensils. The seat of the chief rabbi is elevated. The walls are also covered with Hebrew inscriptions and acronyms of biblical verses.

Above the bima hangs a large old flag, symbolizing the important position of the Prague Jewish community, which in its present form dates from 1716. However, it has been used since the 15th century and shows the community’s coat of arms, a Star of David with a Jewish hat on a red background, with the inscription of the Jewish creed “Shema Yisroel” on the edges.