Old Jewish Cemetery, Prague

The Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague is one of the most famous Jewish cemeteries in Europe. It lies in the former Jewish quarter Josefov Prague's Old Town and goes back to the first half of the 15th century. Despite its small size (approx. 1 ha ) it contains over 12,000 grave stones and probably the remains of 100,000 people.

Short Description

The cemetery corresponds to this day almost its medieval proportions, as there had been no expansion options in the ghetto. For lack of space they buried. , The deceased up to twelve layers, which had over the centuries an almost quaint by today's standards and downs of the soil result 1891 New Jewish Cemetery was built in the Zizkov district to remedy the lack of space.

That with a high wall walled, winding plot lies between the Pinkas Synagogue and the Klausen, but are also the Old-New Synagogue and the Maisel very close. In the enclosure you have immured in 1866 some gothic grave stones that come from an abandoned old cemetery in Prague's New Town, the so-called Jews garden.

Tombs of famous personalities

The most famous grave stones and sarcophagi are the

• Of the writer and rabbis Avigdor Kara (oldest grave, 1439)
• The famous Rabbi Loew (1520-1609), who to this day enjoys a high admiration and is the creator of the legendary golems. The commemoration, according to Jewish tradition laid down stones sometimes go into the hundreds.
• The mayor, Rabbi Mordechai Maisel and philanthropist (1528-1601)
• The printing dynasty Mordechai Bezalel and Zemach (d. 1592 or 1589 )
• The historian and astronomer David Gans (1541-1613) - with a goose as a symbol jewelry
• The city of beauty Hendela Bassevi (d. 1628), wife of the Imperial Austrian court banker Jacob Bassevi of Treuberg ( 1580-1634 )
• Of the physician, mathematician and astronomer Joseph Solomon Delmedigo (1592-1655)
• The Chief Rabbi David Oppenheim (1664-1736), collector of Hebrew manuscripts

Often visited Nephele Hill, where were buried children who were less than a year old.

Many grave stones are decorated with animals or objects that symbolize the family name: the scissors ( Schneider ), a deer (also for family Zvi ), lions, flowers and often grapes as a symbol of good luck.

Next to the cemetery, the Jewish Museum, which are originally from Adolf Eichmann or his speech as "Jewish Central Museum " during the German occupation and established on 6 April 1943 by the SS as a "museum of an extinct race" is opened wurde.Hier numerous cult objects and images on display. They also show the work of the Prague Burial Society and its social function. This non-profit organization founded in 1564 led by ritual funerals, but also devoted himself to charitable community work. The museum also manages the cemetery.

The cemetery and the " Protocols of the Elders of Zion"

One of the most well-known anti-Semitic Verschwörungspamphlete, the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion " has, as a central point of reference the old Jewish cemetery of Prague. Referring thereto, published in 2010 Umberto Eco 's novel The cemetery in Prague. He had already in 1988 in his novel Foucault's Pendulum with the "Protocols " busy.