On our first day, we went through the Jewish Quarter in the Old Town of Prague. Here are some of the buildings in this area.

We then visited the Krausen Synagogue, the largest synagogue in the Jewish Quarter. It was built in the early baroque style and currently houses a Jewish museum.

Next to the synagogue was the Old Jewish Cemetery established in the mid 15th century. There are over 12000 tombstones.

The Pinchas Synagogue is now a Memorial to the victims of the Shoah. The names of 77297 victims are inscribed on the walls. Also Terezin ghetto children’s drawings are exhibited. When you walk into the sanctuary, there is a recording of a person reading off the names interspersed with a Hebrew prayer for the dead. It was an incredible emotional experience. I could not stay in the sanctuary and had to go outside. I didn’t get any pictures.

In the evening, we returned to the quarter to go to the Spanish synagogue to hear a concert. It was a string quintet with a soprano. They played Bolero, parts of the Carmine Burana and other pieces. I never would have believed that I would be in Prague listening to a Czech soprano singing Summertime in a synagogue. Great concert. Outside the synagogue I got a picture of myself next to a statue of Franz Kafka.