Prague's Jewish Quarter

Prague's Jewish community has experienced many highs and lows over the years - the Passover slaughter of 1389, recognition by Charles IV of the community's autonomy in 1716, the ending of many discriminatory measures by Joseph II - just to name a few.  In 1938, the Munich Agreement gave Hitler possession of Czech lands and he restricted the Jewish population of Prague to a ghetto before he deported them to concentration camps.

We visited the Jewish Quarter on a Saturday so nothing was open to tourists.

The guide pointed out a clock on one of the buildings with hands that go backwards so that the past is not forgotten.

The Old New Synagogue in Prague is Europe's oldest active Synagogue.  It was originally called the New or Great Synagogue but when newer synagogues were built, it became known as the Old New Synagogue.

The Old Jewish Cemetery was quite small and could not accommodate the needs of the Jewish community so when the plot was full, graves were built up in layers.  The tour guide said that estimates put the number of graves at around 200,000 with the oldest headstone dating from 1439.  The last burial took place there in 1787.  It was closed so we could not get in and it was difficult to take a photo because it was on a hill with walls around it.