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The Year of Jewish Culture
This year is the Year of Jewish Culture in Czech republic. 100 years ago the Jewish Museum in Prague was established. Its primary role was to save many different objects from Prague synagogues that had been demolished in the beginning of the 20th century.
The museum is in Prague Jewish Quarter, just beside the Old Town Square. There is the oldest synagogue in central Europe - Gothic Old-New Synagogue and Old Jewish Cemetery with more than 12 thousand tombstones in the quarter. Other sites of the museum are The Maisel Synagogue, Pinkas Synagogue, Klausen Synagogue, Ceremonial Hall, Spanish Synagogue, Robert Guttmann Gallery and the Education and Culture Centre.
The cemetery is the most attractive part for visitors. It was established in the 15th century. The oldest tombstone that belongs to the poet and scholar Avigdor Karo is dated 1439, the newest 1787. Burials took place throughout the centuries and further layers were placed on top of each other. Older tombstones were put on the upper layers and these days the old ones stand next to the newer ones. The most famous and prominent person buried in the Old Jewish Cemetery is Judah Loew ben Bezalel, known as Rabbi Loew. He is said to be the creator of the Golem, an artificial human being made from clay who protected Jewish town. The Golem is supposed to rest in the attic of the Old-New Synagogue. Another important person was the Mayor of the Jewish Town Mordechai Maisel. He lived in years 1558-1601. He was very rich, acquired his fortune mainly by lending the money to nobility, even to the emperor Rudolf II. He used a lot of money to develop the place where he lived - paved the streets, built a hospital and spa, built a synagogue. These days Maisel Synagogue is used as an exhibition space and depository of the Jewish Museum.
The Jewish Museum has one of the largest collection of Judaic art in the world. It is a non-state organization under the administration of Jewish Community of Prague and the Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic.
The project’s aim is to show Jewish contribution to history and culture life in the Czech lands. It should celebrate the 100th anniversary as well as show all activities of the Jewish Museum. Evrey month of this year different cities in Czech Republic will take part in the programme to draw attention to the cultural tradition and to enrich cultural life in Czech Republic.
Exhibitions:
Neighbours Who Disappeared
Very compelling exhibition will take place in different cities - travelling exhibition Neighbours Who Disappeared. The project Neighbours Who Disappeared enables young people, elementary school pupils and high school students, to search for people who lived in their neighbourhood and disappeared during the Scecond World War. They discover relations, links and connections within the city and region and plan activities for the schoolmates. City museum in Ceska Trebova, January 23 to February 2, City Museum in Kamenice nad Lipou, March 8 to April 4
Fritz Grünbaum - Grüss mich Gott!
A cabaret artist, actor, dancer, director and writer Fritz Grünbaum (born 1880 in Brno) was well known in Vienna and Berlin. In his performances he made fun of the Nazis. Moravian Museum in Brno, March 21 to September 16
Terry Haass - Light - Time - Space
This is the exhibition of the painter, sculptor and graphic artist who was born in Cesky Tesin in 1923, studied graphic techniques in New York and after the Second World War leaved for Paris. She also took part in archaeological expeditions to Afghanistan and Israel.
Museum of Art in Olomouc, March 16 to May 14
The History of the Jews in Bohemia and Moravia and Jewish Customs and Traditions Extensive travelling exhibitions - Regional Museum in Most, March 7 to April 30
Hitler’s Gift to the Jews
The exhibition represents five artists, Norbert Troller, Otto (Karas) Kaufmann, Georg Wolff, Jaroslav Löbl and Eveline Friederike Finke - Isaac, who were interned in Terezin. Terezin Memorial, January 2 to February 20
Last updated: 31. December 2005