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number 201 in the city
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Staronova Synagogue

Local name: Staronová Synagoga

Located inside: Josefov

The Staronova Synagogue is the oldest building in the Prague Jewish district, i.e. Josefova. It is an active synagogue in which services are still held. The thirteenth-century, raw building with narrow windows and a ribbed six-field vault has numerous inscriptions from the Old Testament on the walls. Above the entrance is the oldest Prague tympanum with the image of a vine.

The synagogue was probably built during the times of Przemysł II Otokar. In subsequent centuries, more annexes were added to it. According to tradition, the walls have not been painted since 1389, when several thousand Jews were murdered in the synagogue during the pogrom.

The interior of the synagogue is dark and without decorations. The columns supporting the vault divide them into naves. The light falls in through the narrow windows, not giving good lighting. Under the walls you can see benches where circumcision was made in the past. There is also a high armchair on which Rabbi Low, a Jewish thinker, creator of the Talmudic school, and creator of the legend of Golem sat down.

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    Maiselova 18110 01 Prague , Czechia