Well rested, Deb and I head out to visit the Jewish Quarter or 'Josefov' in Prague.
A small restaurant at our door of the hostel. We did enjoy a yummy burger and salad there.
Beautiful morning to be alive and exploring.
Feeling grateful.
Below is the Maisel Synagogue which was built in the 16th century.
Since the 10th century Jews have lived in Prague. History turned on them in the 12th century when the Pope decreed that Jews had to be separated from Christians. They also were forced to identify themselves by marks on their clothing? Sound familiar? Horrible how history repeats itself.
The Old-New Synagogue still remains standing even though it is more than 700 years old!
It hold the respect and honour of being the oldest active Synagogue in Europe.
By the 16th-17th century the Jewish Quarter was an overcrowded Jewish Ghetto of over 11,000 people.
A small glimmer of hope occurred during the reign of Emperor Josef II who wanted his country to benefit more economically than endure religious discrimination.
He helped liberate the Jews from the ghetto by bringing down walls and cleaning up buildings. Newer buildings were built while keeping the old Synagogues intact.
By 1930 the Jewish Quarter was a thriving area.
Women were not allowed into the Synagogues. They worshipped from outside of the main building where portals in the walls allowed them to hear the service.
Men must wear a 'kippah' skull cap as a sign of respect. Even visitors through this church must borrow a 'kippah' to enter.
The 'Eternal Flame.'
Tragically, everything changed in 1938 when Hitler began his 'ethnic cleansing' of the Jews.
Of the 55,000 that lived in Prague, only 10,000 survived the Holocaust.
Today there are only 1700 registered Jews in Prague.
Many do not register anymore because of what happened during the Holocaust as a result of being registered a Jew.
This is the Pinkas Synagogue which houses a memorial to the victims of the Holocaust.
Written on all these walls are the names of the 77,297 Czech Jews that were sent to the gas chambers during the Holocaust.
Many of these people have no resting place...no grave....but here they are truly remembered.
I found a 7 year old below...Petr.
Why...why...why...
While paying respects and visiting this synagogue, I could hear music and the reading of the names.
All 77,297 names are recorded and played over and over.
They WILL be remembered.
It is a very somber place. Quite overwhelming.
Because the Jews were forced to live in the very small area in the Jewish Quarter, the burial of their loved ones also become an incredible challenge. The Jewish Cemetery was the only place available to them. 12,000 tombstones are crowded like sardines in a very small cemetery.
Sadly they had to bury their loved ones on top of each other sometimes 7 or 8 deep.
There are actually closer to 85,000 Jews buried in this cemetery!!
The thoughts of that is so incredibly sad to me.
I cried here.....
It is a very loud silent reminder of the hopelessness, helplessness and powerlessness they endured.
What I have read, seen and experienced during this particular travelling experience is how the Jews maintained and held on to their faith. I don't know how they managed to do that. Such a strong people who have struggled for as many centuries as we have history.
I pray history does not repeat itself......
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