The Old New Synagogue

The Old New Synagogue was built in the 13th century. The strange name is a reference to the place where I was built. The synagogue was built on a foundation of an older synagogue, which was buried under the ground before the new construction began. The outer walls of the Old New Synagogue are not splendid at all (actually, how it could be if it is so old). Gaunt building without ornaments, having just an early-gothic pointed gable looks a little bit depressively. There are extensions near three of its walls built for women so as they could listen to the church service at least. The position of the Old New Synagogue has changed a bit during times. Originally, it was built on a hillock. Since this part of Prague had been constantly increasing by use of soil and backfill to prevent the danger of floods, the present location of the Old New Synagogue is very low according to the nearby buildings. You can get to the synagogue by going downstairs several stairs which lead you through a beautiful rocky portal ornamented with wine leafs.

The inside of the Old New Synagogue radiates a kind of a mystique and sanctity. If you come in, you will see an elevated place in the middle of the room, where every rhetorical act of an olden preacher took place. Almenor – this is how they nickname it. Almenor is surrounded by a gothic grille. If you turn to the east to a tabernacle aron ha kodeš hiding a sacred tóra, you can see the famous parchment scrolls, where the basics of the Jewish religion are inscrolled. You can also remember other names for this book (tóra) from literature – Penta-toi, Five books of Moses, Tóra. Other decorative element of the Old New Synagogue is a standard with a pennon on which there is depicted a six-tipped Jewish star and a tall hat, a symbol representing the independence which was given to Jewish community by Charles IV.