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Old-New Synagogue

Medieval Gothic synagogue in Prague, completed around 1270 and recognized as the oldest active synagogue in Europe.

Prague, Czech Republic

Pabernosmatao / Wikimedia CommonsSourceCC0 1.0

About

The Old-New Synagogue, known in Czech as Staronová synagoga and in Yiddish as the Altneuschul, stands in Prague’s historic Jewish Town. Built in the last third of the thirteenth century and commonly dated to around 1270, it became the principal synagogue of the local Jewish community. Its medieval Gothic structure has survived wars, fires, political upheaval and the destruction of much of European Jewish life. The synagogue remains in religious use and is administered within Prague’s Jewish communal institutions. Its interior preserves historic features including the central bimah, the Torah ark and traditional seating arrangements. The site is also associated with the Maharal of Prague and with enduring Jewish legends. Its combination of age, survival and continued worship makes it one of the most important functioning synagogue monuments in the world.

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Records held by Old-New Synagogue

JWR VerifiedFounding Record

Jewish Heritage · SynagoguesOldest

Oldest Active Synagogue in Europe

Record holder

Old-New Synagogue

Record value

1270s (estimated)

The Old-New Synagogue in Prague is the oldest active synagogue in Europe. It was completed around 1270 in the city’s medieval Jewish quarter and has served Prague’s Jewish community for more than seven centuries. The building is an outstanding example of early Gothic synagogue architecture, with a distinctive two-nave interior, ribbed vaulting and a central bimah. It was originally known as the New or Great Synagogue; the name Old-New Synagogue came into use only after newer synagogues were established nearby. The synagogue became closely associated with Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel, the Maharal of Prague, and later with legends of the Golem. Most importantly for this record, it remains a functioning house of Jewish worship, which is why the word “Active” is essential to the title.

Holder country: Czech Republic
Achievement location: Prague, Czech Republic
Achievement date: 1270

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