Zadní synagoga Synagogue

Zadní synagoga in Třebíč, formerly called New Synagogue, is a Baroque sacral building from 1669. Located in the heart of the Jewish quarter. The building excels with preserved Baroque stucco decoration and unique wall paintings of biblical verses which were exposed during extensive reconstruction in the 1990s.

The synagogue was established in 1669, when Czech countries recovered from the consequences of the Thirty Years' War and baroque peak in architecture. The history of the building was linked from the beginning to the fate of the Jewish village. By order of Count Valdštejn, the roof was torn down in 1693. The reconstruction took place between 1705 and 1707 thanks to the support of Jan Karl from Valdštejn.

Architecturally, it is a baroque monument, the key part of which is the eastern wall oriented towards Israel, where the box with the Torah used to be. In 1837 a woman's gallery arrived on the north side. The interior is decorated with stucco ceiling and paintings of biblical verses or quotes from Talmud. The author of fresco is Arje Lejb, which created them directly on the plaster without using templates. During the reconstruction in the 1990s, fragments of these paintings were discovered under the newer layers of plaster throughout the space, which required additional costs of CZK 4.5 million.

In the 20th century, the synagogue lost its religious function. Since 1926 it served as a warehouse for Subakov's tannery and later as a warehouse for the national enterprise Zelenina Třebíč. This use has led to gradual devastation. The preservation of the monument began in the 1980s, followed by a complete renewal between 1988 and 1997. As part of the modifications, the building was secured against moisture and radon. In 2011, the curtain at the bottom of the synagogue was declared a cultural monument.

Today, the building serves as an exhibition and concert hall. The women's gallery has a permanent exhibition of the Prague Jewish Museum and a panel exhibition about the history of the Jewish quarter. The premises also include Seligman Bauer's house and a museum in the form of kosher butchers. In the adjacent house there is an exhibition of Children Antonín Kalina, which reminds of the fate of children saved during the Holocaust. The construction is continuously maintained, in recent years work on dehumidifying walls and roof repairs is ongoing.

Zadní synagoga represents a valuable proof of Jewish culture and history in Czech countries, which has been preserved for future generations. Visiting this place offers a unique opportunity to become acquainted with the history of the Jewish Quarter and to explore rare baroque artistic elements in an authentic environment.