Spanish Synagogue (Prague)

The Spanish Synagogue ( Czech Španělská synagoga ) is a deconsecrated synagogue in the Josefstadt district in Prague. It was built in the mid 19th century in the Moorish style and is located in the street Vězeňská 1

History

The Spanish Synagogue is the youngest church on the territory of the former Jewish Town. It stands in place of the no longer extant oldest synagogue in Prague, the Altschul. It belonged to a small, separate from the actual Jewish Quarter area. 1389 Altschul was during an uprising against the Jews destroyed but rebuilt. In 1516 it burned down again in 1603 and rebuilt in 1622. 1745-49, when the Jews were expelled from Prague, she was again devastated and then renewed in 1750 at the expense of Israel Frankl Spira.

1837 Altschul was the first reformed synagogue of Prague, was in the synagogue also started cultivation of music. In the time there were significant preacher at the Altschul, especially Leopold Zunz and Michael Sachs rabbi from 1846 to 1868 Saul Isak Kaempf. The Czech composer František Škroup who was not a Jew himself, worked from 1836-1845 at the synagogue to promote the synagogue music and develop.

The Association of Reformed worship was the Altschul remodel neogothic. But these changes did not satisfy the increasing interest, Altschul was demolished in 1867. The Spanish Synagogue was built in its place in 1868 was usable. The architect Ignatz Ullmann liefertedie plans, interior designs came from Josef Niklas. 1882/3, the synagogue was equipped by Antonin tree and Bedřich Münzberger with rich ornamental decoration in Moorish style. Because of this architectural style it was now called Spanish Synagogue, and not, as one might assume also because it would have been a synagogue of Sephardic Jews.

1941, the services were set here and the building served as a warehouse for items from expropriated Jewish property. Since 1955 it has been managed by the Jewish Museum, 1960-1982 an exhibition of synagogue textiles showed here. In 1994 it passed back into the possession of the Jewish community and was then completely restored. Since 1998, here you can see a permanent exhibition of the recent Jewish history in Bohemia and Moravia. In addition, are also held concerts and Jewish festivals in the Spanish Synagogue.

Specifications

The Spanish Synagogue consists of a central room that is vaulted with a large dome. There are galleries on three sides. The walls and ceilings are richly painted with Stuckarabesken and ornaments along the lines of the Spanish Alhambra and gilded. On the gallery is an organ in the same ornamental features. The windows are glazed with painted glass.