The Old Jewish Cemetery

The Old Jewish Cemetery in Josefov, part of Prague's Jewish Quarter, is a monument of global significance. Established in the first half of the fifteenth century, it stands alongside the Old-New Synagogue as one of the most important preserved monuments in the Jewish quarter of Prague. This area also served as a firebreak; if the surrounding houses caught fire, the flames could not easily spread to the Old-New Synagogue.

The cemetery was in use until 1787 and covers an area of approximately eleven thousand square meters. Within the complex, there are about twelve thousand tombstones, with the oldest gravestone belonging to the scholar and poet Avigdor Kar, dating back to 1439. The cemetery has been expanded several times in the past, but it is believed that there are multiple layers of graves (up to ten) stacked on top of one another.

Notable Burials

The most significant figure buried in the Old Jewish Cemetery is undoubtedly Rabbi Yehuda Liwa ben Becalel, known as Rabbi Löw († 1609), who is famed for the legend of the creation of the Golem, an artificial being.

Several other notable Jewish personalities are also buried here:

  • Mordechai Maisel († 1601): He was the leader of the Jewish community and is the namesake of the Maisel Synagogue, which is also part of the Jewish Museum. His grave is marked by a four-sided tomb, visible in the centre of the photo below.

The grave of Rabbi Löw

The grave of Mordechai Maisel

  • David Gans († 1655): A Renaissance scholar, historian, mathematician, and astronomer, Gans made significant contributions to various fields of knowledge during his lifetime.

  • Josef Šalom Delmedig († 1655): A renowned scientist known for his work and contributions to Jewish scholarship and learning.

  • David Oppenheim († 1736): A rabbi and collector of Hebrew manuscripts and prints, Oppenheim played an important role in preserving Jewish literary heritage.

 

 

Notes and Stones

An ancient Jewish custom involves leaving notes with wishes on the graves of the deceased. This practice stems from the belief that the departed have a connection to heaven and can help fulfill these wishes. However, these requests should never concern personal gain or material betterment.

To prevent the notes from being blown away by even the slightest breeze, they are often covered with a small stone.

You won’t find flowers at Jewish graves, as the saying goes: “flowers wither, but stones endure.”

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