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Friday, October 26, 2018

Visit Prague's "Jewish Quarter" and travel back in time

Don’t leave Prague without visiting “The Old Jewish Cemetery,” the largest of its kind in Europe and one of the most important Jewish monuments in Prague.

To enjoy and understand its history, I suggest that you avail the complete tour package "The Jewish Quarter" which includes not only “The Old Jewish Cemetery” but also the centuries old Synagogues and other historical Jewish landmarks. The tour package can be avail at the small office beside the exit of the Jewish Cemetery. Map will be provided so as to pinpoint the exact location of these Jewish monuments. No worries since all these places are strategically located within a few blocks and they are walkable.


Centuries old Josefov Synagogue

 
Inside the Synagogue

Inside the Synagogue

Inside the Synagogue


Pinkas Synagogue
 
Inside Pinkas Synagogue


Inside Pinkas Synagogue
 


Name of 78,000 Jewish victims of the Holocaust inscribed on the wall of Pinkas Synagogue



"Kippah" returned by visitors
 
It was our first time to enter a Jewish synagogue. Having visited many sacred places in different countries, the wife and I were properly dressed; shorts and bare shoulder attires are not allowed inside these places. For men, you’d be given and asked to wear a Kippah while inside. You’ll be amazed upon visiting these old synagogue as if you’ve been transported back in time. At the exit you may return the Kippah; in my case I brought it with me as souvenir. 
 
Picture taking is allowed inside these places. 
 



 
This is where they prepare the body before burying
 

This is where they prepare the body before burying

For the cemetery, seeing those overcrowding gravestones in miniscule space is somewhat surprising. We learned later on that due to limitation of space they covered the old ground with new layer of soil to accommodate more bodies. As sign of respect, the gravestone of the previously buried body is elevated and relocated beside the gravestone of the newly buried body. As time passes by, several layers of soil have been added resulting to the old gravestones being elevated from time to time.
 

We initially thought that they just dumped the gravestone in that small area for tourism purposes; we were wrong. The owners of those gravestones are actually buried underneath them, on top of each other.

There is a small building inside the cemetery; this is where they prepare the body before burying it. Admission is included on the tour package.

We visited the place using Tram but you can also trek to this place from the center of the “Old Town.”

Forget about tour guide, the wife and I toured these places on our own. All information about these places are available on the net.


 

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