Picture This: Prague’s Jewish Quarter

The Jewish Quarter in Prague, Czech Republic

Jewish Quarter, Prague, Czech Republic

Prague’s Jewish Quarter, known as Josefav, has gone from settlement, to walled ghetto, to near extinction, to tourist attraction through the ten centuries of its existence.

When the Nazis invaded Prague during WWII, it was expected that they would destroy Josefav altogether, instead they decided to preserve the cemetery, town hall, ceremonial hall and several synagogs as an “exotic museum of an extinct race.”

Fortunately their plans were foiled.

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Jewish Quarter, Prague, Czech Republic

Jewish Quarter, Prague, Czech Republic

We became obsessed with The Golem of Prague.

The Golem of Prague

The Golem of Prague

The Jewish Quarter in Prague, Czech Republic

Legend says in the late 16th century, the Golum (a being made from clay and brought to life) was created to order to protect the people of Josefav.

The rabbi that called him forth wasn’t as careful as he should have been with the Golum and the creature turned violent. He had to be killed.

The Golum’s body is said to be kept in the attic of the Synagogue in Josefav, and can be reanimated if he is needed again (windows of the attic are seen in the photo below).

The Golem of Prague lives here

David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com

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2 thoughts on “Picture This: Prague’s Jewish Quarter”

  1. The rebuilding of Josefov- the Jewish Quarters in Prague,

    1885 it was decided that the original Jewish Ghetto of Prague that was established in the 11th century, would be demolished , as it was in a state of disrepair , as in essence it was a picturesque slum in the heart of historical Prague.
    In its place the town council of Prague planned a new urban development that would try to look like a Parisian boulevard, with wide tree line streets and new apartment house, for the upper classes.
    As the rebuilding of the Jewish Quarters was finished in 1913, a lot of its building were in then very fashionable architectural style know as
    Art Nouveau, an architectural style that came to be symbolized with floral motives
    and the depiction of women. As is visible on numerous building facades, Jewish Quarters.

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