Interior of the Klausen synagogue, 1694, Jewish quarter (Josefov), The Klausen Synagogue is nowadays the largest synagogue in the former Prague Jewish ghetto and also a single example of an early Baroque synagogue in the area. Today the synagogue is administered by the Jewish Museum in Prague. In 1570s a renowned businessman and benefactor of the ghetto, Mordechai Maisel, decided to build in the area of the present Klausen Synagogue a complex of buildings, probably including synagogues and a private Talmudic school. The famous Prague rabbi and scholar Maharal taught at this school.[1] The complex was called Klausen (German term originating from Latin claustrum, closed space). In 1689, the great fire of the ghetto burned down all the Klausen and the synagogue is named after them.
Shelomo Khalish Cohen, a rabbi of the burned down synagogue, which had been part of the complex, then initiated construction of a new synagogue in early baroque style at the site. In 1694, the building was finished and two years later monumental three-tiered aron ha-kodesh, the Torah Ark, was added, thanks to the endowment of Samuel Oppenheimer, an affluent and influential personality of the Austrian monarchy, part of which Prague was at the time. Many important rabbis, for example Eleazar Fleckeles, are also connected with the synagogue. In 1883–84, the synagogue was reconstructed by an architect Bedřich Münzberger, who also partook in decorating the Spanish Synagogue. Massive urban renewal of the ghetto at the turn of the 20th century left the Klausen Synagogue intact, while other baroque synagogues such as the Zigeuner, Great Court and New Synagogue were demolished. Nowadays, the Klausen Synagogue is thus the only example of a baroque synagogue in the former ghetto. During the World War II a depository as well as an exposition was located in the synagogue. As soon as one year after the war, an exposition about Jewish festivals and customs was opened there. The synagogue was reconstru
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![Interior of the Klausen synagogue, 1694, Jewish quarter (Josefov), The Klausen Synagogue is nowadays the largest synagogue in the former Prague Jewish ghetto and also a single example of an early Baroque synagogue in the area. Today the synagogue is administered by the Jewish Museum in Prague. In 1570s a renowned businessman and benefactor of the ghetto, Mordechai Maisel, decided to build in the area of the present Klausen Synagogue a complex of buildings, probably including synagogues and a private Talmudic school. The famous Prague rabbi and scholar Maharal taught at this school.[1] The complex was called Klausen (German term originating from Latin claustrum, closed space). In 1689, the great fire of the ghetto burned down all the Klausen and the synagogue is named after them. <br />
Shelomo Khalish Cohen, a rabbi of the burned down synagogue, which had been part of the complex, then initiated construction of a new synagogue in early baroque style at the site. In 1694, the building was finished and two years later monumental three-tiered aron ha-kodesh, the Torah Ark, was added, thanks to the endowment of Samuel Oppenheimer, an affluent and influential personality of the Austrian monarchy, part of which Prague was at the time. Many important rabbis, for example Eleazar Fleckeles, are also connected with the synagogue. In 1883–84, the synagogue was reconstructed by an architect Bedřich Münzberger, who also partook in decorating the Spanish Synagogue. Massive urban renewal of the ghetto at the turn of the 20th century left the Klausen Synagogue intact, while other baroque synagogues such as the Zigeuner, Great Court and New Synagogue were demolished. Nowadays, the Klausen Synagogue is thus the only example of a baroque synagogue in the former ghetto. During the World War II a depository as well as an exposition was located in the synagogue. As soon as one year after the war, an exposition about Jewish festivals and customs was opened there. The synagogue was reconstru](https://m.psecn.photoshelter.com/img-get2/I0000itXVodl_oT4/fit=1000x750/klausen-praha-synagogue.jpg)
