Josefov

Coordinates: 50°05′25″N 14°25′10″E / 50.09028°N 14.41944°E / 50.09028; 14.41944
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
Josefov (Prague)
)
Narrow streets of the ghetto, demolished between 1893 and 1913
The Old New Synagogue

Josefov (also Jewish Quarter;

Prague's Jewish community, a yellow Magen David (Star of David
) on a red field.

History

Jews are believed to have settled in Prague as early as the 10th century. The first

Mordecai Maisel
, became the Minister of Finance and a very wealthy man. His money helped develop the ghetto.

In 1850, the quarter was renamed "Josefstadt" (Joseph's City) after

Toleration Edict
in 1781. Two years before Jews were allowed to settle outside of the city, so the share of the Jewish population in Josefov decreased, while only Orthodox and poor Jews remained living there.

Most of the quarter was demolished between 1893 and 1913 as part of an initiative to model the city on Paris. What was left were only six synagogues, the old cemetery, and the Old Jewish Town Hall (now all part of the Jewish Museum in Prague and described below).

Currently Josefov is overbuilt with buildings from the beginning of the 20th century, so it is difficult to appreciate exactly what the old quarter was like when it was reputed to have over 18,000 inhabitants. Medieval Josefov is depicted in the 1920 film

expressionist
nature of the film.

Historical sites

Old Jewish Cemetery, Prague

Further reading

  • Všetečka, Jiří; Kuděla, Jiří (1993). The fate of Jewish Prague. Grafoprint-Neubert.
  • Prague City Tourism (2017). Prague: Jewish. Prague City Tourism.

Gallery

  • Jewish Cemetery and surrounding buildings
    Jewish Cemetery and surrounding buildings
  • The cemetery itself
    The cemetery itself
  • The surrounding buildings
    The surrounding buildings
  • A few steps apart
    A few steps apart
  • A monument of a pregnant woman made of mirrors
    A monument of a pregnant woman made of mirrors

See also

References

External links

50°05′25″N 14°25′10″E / 50.09028°N 14.41944°E / 50.09028; 14.41944