Klaus Synagogue – Prague, Josefov: Exhibition about Jewish customs
The Klaus Synagogue is the largest synagogue in the Jewish Town of Prague. It did not get its name after the former president Václav Klaus, but after three smaller buildings, called “klauses” – from the Latin claustrum = whole, room. They have stood on the site since the 16th century. In one of them, the legendary creator of the Golem, Rabbi Löw, founded a Jewish school for the study of the Talmud. The second was a prayer room and the third was intended for a ritual bath (mikveh) and for the care of the sick.
Destroying fire
Although the buildings were reduced to ashes in 1689, thanks to the superior Šalamoun Chališ Kohen, they were built by 1694 in the early Baroque style new, already the only synagogue still standing today. It was originally called the New Claus School. It was the second main synagogue of the Prague Jewish community and many of its prominent rabbis worked here, it also served as a prayer hall for the Prague Burial Brotherhood.
It was modified in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During the occupation, the interior was destroyed. It saw further reconstructions only after the 1970s. Only the shapes of the windows and an inscription plate on the pillars, dating the establishment of the synagogue to 1694, have been preserved from the original building. The main nave houses the first part of the exhibition, dealing with the issue of weekday services, Shabbat and holidays.
The course of life and a typical household
Ordinary visitors ignorant of the Jewish faith will be interested in the daily life of the Jews. Birth, coming of age, and marriage are important occasions for Judaism to fulfill religious commands. The exhibition begins with birth, which is the key moment in which the life of both mother and child is in greatest danger. Therefore, Jews pray for their safety and also use amulets. They mainly contain Hebrew biblical quotations, they were mainly intended to protect against Lilith – the first, rejected woman of Adam, who, according to tradition, threatens newborns.
One kimpet-cetl amulet was traditionally hung above the mother’s bed or in the door. Tone day after the birth of a son and two weeks after the birth of a daughter, a period of purification begins for the mother, which lasts thirty-three days if she gave birth to a boy, or sixty-six days if she gave birth to a girl. At the end of the time, the mother will take a bath in the ritual bath (mikveh) and after that you will visit the synagogue.
Circumcision
Through the covenant of circumcision (brit mila), a Jewish boy enters into a sacred relationship with God and his community. The procedure is performed either at home or in a synagogue. According to rabbinical tradition, an invisible host – the prophet Elijah – also participates in every circumcision. A cup and one place on the typical two-part circumcision chair will also be reserved for him. In the second place sits the godfather, who has the task of holding the boy on his lap during the ceremony.
Exhibition of Judaism inside the Klaus Synagogue.
Author: Jan Darílek
Cutting off the foreskin is performed by a mohel, a pious man with adequate medical and ritual knowledge. A special double-edged knife with a round blade tip is used for the procedure. Today, modern medicines are used to treat wounds, previously they were traditional healing oils and powders, which are kept in various decorative bottles and jars. To register performed circumcisions, next to the mohel, the book of the circumcised (sefer nimolim), which is the period of birth records.
Bar Mitzvah
The basic religious duties of the father include ensuring the upbringing of children in the spirit of Judaism. The child’s first steps in religious life are usually led by the father himself, later the child is allowed to participate in various forms of Jewish education. In traditional society, only boys were sent to school, girls were educated at home. An important milestone is reaching adulthood.
A Jewish boy is considered an adult from the age of thirteen, a girl from the age of twelve. A boy becomes a bar mitzvah (“a son of the commandment”), a girl a bat mitzvah (“a daughter of the commandment”). It means that they are fully responsible for their behavior in the religious field from then on. Finally, there is a social event, connected with religious rituals.
“Mazal tov!”
Marriage is based on mutual trust and agreement. The wedding is preceded by the drawing up of two types of wedding contracts. The document written in Aramaic (ketubah) mainly contains the groom’s promise that he will be respectful to the woman and will never leave her without resources. The Hebrew-written document (tnam) sets the date of the marriage and also calculates in detail the mutual obligations of the betrothed. The writing was accompanied by a public celebration. The wedding ceremony itself takes place under the wedding canopy (chupa).
It symbolizes the future home of the couple. NEvesta circumambulates the bridegroom seven times, thus beginning the first part of the betrothal, in which she gives the spiritual betrothed the first cup of wine in their union. Then the groom puts the ring on the index finger of the bride’s right hand and recites an ancient formula. Then comes the second part of marriages. A song is sung and the newlyweds drink the second cup together. At the end of the ceremony, the groom breaks a glass, to which the wedding guests respond by exclaiming: “Mazal tov!” (“Good luck!”).
The resting place of Jews who lived in the old Jewish Town Youtube: Jewish Museum in Prague (Jewish Museum in Prague)
Exhibition of Judaism inside the Klaus Synagogue.
Author: Jan Dařílek