FLOODS HIT PRAGUE'S JEWISH CULTURAL TREASURES

The Czech capital of Prague was hit in August 2002 with its worst flooding in hundreds of years. Many historical buildings and other artifacts were inundated by the huge wave of water and mud that poured into the city on August 13-14, 2002. Besides damaging large areas of residential suburbs, the water also ran through the storm drainage system into the part of the Prague historical center included on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list. The oldest Prague synagogues, including the Pinkas Synagogue, are located in this quarter of the city and were severely damaged.

Photos: Dana Cabanova, Petr Kliment, Jewish Museum in Prague

The flooded western wall of the Spanish Synagogue

For the account number for contributions for cleanup and reconstruction of the Prague synagogues please see the following website:
http://www.jewishpragueflood.cz

You can also contribute directly to the Jewish Museum in Prague:
Zidovske muzeum v Praze,
195420830257/0100 (U.S. dollar account)
SWIFT CODE: KOMB CZ PP
or
510091870297/0100 (Euro account)
SWIFT CODE: KOMB CZ PP

For more information on the damage caused
by the flooding and on the re-opening of the
Museum see the report
Flood damage in the Jewish Museum in Prague
in August 2002 by the Director of the Jewish
Museum in Prague, Mr. Leo Pavlat.

The Pinkas Synagogue on 16 August 2002 after the water level partially dropped. The dark line on the walls shows the high water mark.

More photos the damage caused
by the flooding