Pinkas Synagogue

Collection description

Scope and content:: The fonds contains statutes, pinkasim (ledgers), registers of synagogue seats, marriage banns registers, records of meetings, personnel files, and property inventories. A substantial portion of the fonds comprises financial records (particularly relating to donations and charitable foundations), as well as construction and building management documents, and records of the Boruch Sheomar association.

Archival history:: The records came to the archives of the Jewish Museum in Prague during the Second World War as part of shipments of material from Jewish communities and organisations that had been disbanded.

Administrative/biographical history:: The Pinkas Synagogue was built in the late Gothic style in 1535 for Aaron Meshullam Horowitz, a prominent member of the Prague Jewish community. It was probably named after Aaron's grandson, Rabbi Pinkas. It was used as a private house of prayer by the Pinkas family. Between 1607 and 1625 the building was extended by the addition of a late Renaissance annex, probably designed by Judah Tzoref de Herz. After damage by floods in 1758 and 1771, Baroque alterations were carried out inside the building. After more flood damage in 1860, a decision was taken by the synagogue board to radically modernize the interior. In an attempt to prevent further flood damage, the floor level of the main hall and vestibule was raised by earth fill. The synagogue building was reconstructed in the 1950s. It houses a memorial to the Shoah victims from Bohemia and Moravia.

Subject terms:: Aid and relief; Aid and relief--Philanthropy and charity; Architecture; Financial records; Jewish community; Jewish community records; Jewish community records--Pinkasim; Synagogues