Jerusalem Synagogue: A Guide to the Most Colourful Synagogue in Prague

The Jubilee (Jerusalem) Synagogue was built as a replacement for the demolished synagogues following the redevelopment of the Prague Jewish ghetto. It is the youngest and also the largest synagogue slightly away from the original Prague Jewish Quarter community.

It’s also one of the most colourful buildings in Prague, built in an interesting mix of Art Nouveau and Moorish style. I always make a point of looking up the beautiful facade, when I’m walking up to get a train from the Main Train Station. This year, I finally made the time to visit inside the synagogue and I was so glad I did!

Is Jerusalem Synagogue worth visiting?

If you are short of time and you want to see just one synagogue in Prague to learn more about the Jewish community, I would definitely recommend that you visit the Jerusalem synagogue.

Unlike the cluster of synagogues close to the Old Town Square, you can buy separate ticket to this synagogue alone and you don’t need to rush your visit. If you wish you can easily spend a 60 – 90 minutes there, so it’s not like a whole day visit which the other synagogues tend to be (if you want to see everything and take your time).

The Jerusalem synagogue is also beautiful to look at and walk around. A lot of people seems to be slightly disappointed with the Old Synagogues because there is ‘nothing’ to look at inside (yes, there are much, much older, so the decor is very minimalistic).

My favourite things about visiting the Jerusalem Synagogue

I love how quiet the synagogue was, despite being close to a busy road. It was very humbling to visit the exhibitions and walk around the top of the synagogue and outside too.

The exhibition about the different synagogues saved around the Czech Republic inspired me to visit some of these, such as Ustek, Zatec Town, Kolin, Trebic, Pilzen or Breznice on my travels. And whenever I visit, I always want to learn more about the Jewish historic sites and community in the particular area.

The Jerusalem Synagogue History

Originally there were three different designs suggested for the synagogue. The first project in the Neo-Romanesque style by builder Alois Richter was presented to the committee in 1899, the second project in the Neo-Gothic style by builder Josef Linhart in 1901. But it was not until the third project was developed in 1903 by the renowned Viennese architect Wilhelm Stiassny, that the new synagogue built went ahead.

The third version was finally approved in 1904 and during the years 1905–06, the building was constructed by the builder Alois Richter.

Since the synagogue was going to be built away from the original Jewish Quarter in the Old Town, there were problems with the new building.

One of the most curious obstacles in the construction of the synagogue was a complaint raised by the nearby congregation of the Church of St. Henry, stating that “the singing from the synagogue would disturb Christian worshipers on Sundays.” Clearly they didn’t realised that the main services are held on Friday evening and Saturday and not on Sundays.

The new synagogue was opened and dedicated on September 16, 1906 and named ‘Jubilee’ in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the reign of Franz Joseph I – the Austro-Hungarian Emperor.

The synagogue facade is decorated with Moorish arches, a large round rosetta window, beautiful Iberian red and white stone stripes and pretty colours, that make the building to stand out. The interior is as beautiful as the outside of the building with a mixture of Moorish elements with detailed Art Nouveau decorations made by F. Fröhlich.

The synagogue has 850 seats and a separate balcony for women.

Except for the period of the Protectorate during the 2nd World War, when the synagogue was used as a warehouse, services have been continuously held here since the original opening in 1906.

After the first major renovation in the 1990s, richly painted ornaments in the style of Viennese Art Nouveau were discovered under layers of plaster and old paint on approximately twenty-five square meters. This is very unique as no other synagogue in the world has this kind of decor.

Another discovery was made in 2003, when during the maintenance of the wall paintings a hidden parchment was found under one of the marble slabs.

Amazingly, the scroll describes the history of the synagogue construction and details about the builders and craftsmen who worked on the building. It’s possible that it was put there by the architect or the top builder to be kept there and possibly red by future generations if found.

One of the most important synagogue treasures is the newly restored original organ, which used to be powered by an electric motor designed by František Křižík, an inventor, who brought electricity to Prague.

Exhibitions at Jerusalem Synagogue

The permanent exhibition in the synagogue, titled “The Jewish Community in Prague from 1945 to the Present,” presents the previously unknown post-war history of the Jewish community in Prague. Using unique photographs, documents, and documentary films, it captures key moments of its existence from the end of World War II to the present day.

When I visited, there was also a very interesting exhibition about restored synagogues around the Czech Republic. Many of these are now in the local town ownership (rather than belonging to the Jewish community), but each town wants to preserve the history and the heritage for future generations, which is really lovely to see.

The synagogue is open daily, with services held on Friday and Saturday.

Tickets can be purchased at the entrance to the Jerusalem Synagogue and you don’t need to pre-book your visit. Unlike the cluster of synagogues close to the Old Town Square, Jerusalem Synagogue is never too crowded.

How to visit the Jerusalem Synagogue

Location: Jeruzalemska Street 7, Prague 1
How to get there: The nearest tram stop is ‘Jindrisska’ on tram lines 3, 9, 5, 24 and you can also easily reach it from the Main Train Station or underground ‘Hlavni Nadrazi’.
Opening Times: All year round – Monday – Friday 10 am – 5 pm and Sunday 10 am – 5 pm (closed on Saturdays)
Tickets: 150 CZK Adult, 100 CZK students, senior citizens

This blog post was originally written on 12 July 2024 and last updated on 12 July 2024

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