The Pinkas Synagogue is a part of the Jewish Museum in Prague and from the middle of the last century, it has served as a memorial to the Czech Jewish victims of the holocaust. On the inner walls are written about 80,000 names of Czech Jews who did not survive the Nazi extermination during the Second World War. The names appear in alphabetical order according to the individual Czech communities, and in most cases are accompanied by two chronological data: date of birth and date of the last available information on the given person. The tragic fate of the Jewish population is further highlighted by a very touching exhibition of children's drawings from Theresienstadt.
The Late Gothic and Renaissance Pinkas Synagogue is situated in close proximity to the Old Jewish Cemetery. In 1535, Aron Mesulam Horowitz, commissioned it to be built for his family, the Horowitzs, a prominent Prague Jewish family. The synagoue's current shape is the result of many renovations and repairs, some of which were necessary, due to frequent floods which the synagogue faced in the past.
The Pinkas Synagogue is still active today. The Prague reform Jewish community holds certain important Jewish ceremonies there.
If you have decided to visit this synagogue, you are required to buy a ticket to the Jewish Museum, which will also allow you access to the following: the Spanish Synagogue, Pinkas Synagogue, Maisel Synagogue, Ceremonial Hall, and the Old Jewish Cemetery. It is not possible to purchase a ticket only to the Maisel Synagogue.
It is also possible to visit this synagogue with our guided tour of Jewish Quarter with private guide, in order to learn much more about the history of Czech Jews, their traditions and daily life.
