Jewish Museum in Prague

Česky

On 1 October 2003, the Jewish Museum in Prague reopened the Pinkas Synagogue, which has been closed for the last 14 months as a result of damage caused by last year’s floods.

Last August, Prague was hit by devastating floods. Of all the heritage-protected Jewish buildings in Prague, it was the Pinkas Synagogue that suffered the most damage. The nave and entrance hall were flooded with contaminated ground water and mud; the level of flood water reached a height of 1.3 metres above the ground floor and the basement areas were completed inundated. The structure of the building, the spacing and ventilation channels, and the structure of the arches were damaged. In addition, the electric under-floor heating, thermal insulation and waterproofing under the water level were completely destroyed.
The reconstruction of the synagogue was carried out in two stages – the actual building project followed on from the preparatory work carried out by various specialists.
The team of experts comprised a microbiologist, chemist, climatologist, building engineer, diagnostician of building constructions, structural engineer, hydrogeologist, restorer of paintings, stone restorer and a heritage protection employee. Its recommendation was to prioritize the securing of the building. Dampness in the synagogue was gradually reduced. The rooms had to be repeatedly cleaned and disinfected.

Despite all the preventative measures, however, irreversible long-term changes occurred in several spots. The inscriptions on the eastern part of the south wall were completely destroyed; these will be the focus of restoration measures once the synagogue has been put back into operation. The expected term for the writing of new inscriptions is October 2003 – April 2004.

A reconstruction study was prepared in order to ensure the successful course of the rescue and reconstruction project. This study, together with the results of each operation, was included in the project documentation for the building permit. The building project was prepared with regard to the exceptional cultural and historical value of the building and with a view to returning it to its original architectural form. Building work was completed on 12 September 2003.

The investor of the Pinkas Synagogue reconstruction project was the Jewish Museum in Prague. Funding was provided from various sources, the most significant amount being covered by the Museum’s insurance policy with the company Kooperativa a.s. (mediated by brokerage firm Aura Lloyd s.r.o.). The remaining costs were covered by several international grants and donations, as well as the Museum’s own resources.

Major financial contributions towards the reconstruction of the Pinkas Synagogue were received by the Museum from a number of sponsors and institutions from the Czech Republic and abroad and from international organizations, notably: The World Monuments Fund (USA); the Czech-German Foundation for the Future (Czech Republic and Germany); Freie und Hansestadt Hamburg (Germany); The American Joint Distribution Committee (USA); The American Friends of the Czech Republic (USA); The American Jewish Committee (USA); The Project Judaica Foundation (USA); the EZRA Foundation (Slovakia). The expected total costs linked to the overall reconstruction amount to CZK 7.8 million.

The permanent exhibition „Children’s Drawings from Terezín, 1942-44“, from the collections of the Jewish Museum in Prague, has been reinstalled on the upper floor of the synagogue. The introductory part of the exhibition includes an informative text about the Art in Extreme Situations project which is held as part of a workshop at the Education and Culture Centre of the Jewish Museum in Prague.

With the reopening of the Pinkas Synagogue, the tour of the Jewish Museum is now complete. Accordingly, as of 1 October 2003, the Museum’s previous admission fees applies (these were reduced during the time the Pinkas Synagogue was closed to the public): adults – 300,-Kč; children aged 6-15 and students – 200,-Kč; children under 6 – free of charge. For more information contact ou7 Reservation Centre on +420 222 317 191.