Jubilee Synagogue

The Jubilee Synagogue (also known as the Jerusalem Synagogue) is an Art Nouveau–Moorish house of worship on Jerusalem Street in Prague's New Town, completed in 1906 and still an active synagogue today.

When was the Jubilee Synagogue built, and who designed it?

Construction started in 1905 and was finished the following year, in 1906. The design came from Viennese architect Wilhelm Stiassny, who combined Art Nouveau forms with Moorish motifs and elements of Islamic art — the result is a striking striped facade and a richly decorated interior, quite different from the more restrained, historicist synagogues built across Europe just a few decades earlier.

Why is it called the "Jubilee" Synagogue?

The name marks the 50th anniversary of Emperor Franz Joseph I's reign over Austria-Hungary. The Jewish community needed a new place of worship at the time because three older synagogues in Prague's Josefov quarter had just been demolished as part of the sweeping redevelopment of the Jewish district around the turn of the 20th century. The new building on Jerusalem Street was meant to replace them.

Why do people now call it the "Jerusalem" Synagogue instead?

After Czechoslovakia gained independence in 1918, a name honouring a Habsburg emperor made less sense, and the alternative name — simply taken from the street the synagogue stands on, Jerusalem Street — gradually took over in everyday use. Today both names, Jubilee and Jerusalem, are used side by side for the same building.

What happened to the synagogue during the Second World War?

During the occupation, between 1941 and 1945, the building was used as a storage depot for property confiscated from Jewish owners. That practical use ended up sparing it from destruction — unlike many other Jewish houses of worship across Europe, it was never demolished or seriously damaged.

What is the synagogue used for today?

It still functions as an active place of worship, holding services especially on Shabbat and Jewish holidays. At the same time, it operates as a cultural venue: the interior is open to visitors, and concerts are held here featuring the synagogue's original, well-preserved organ. That combination makes the Jubilee Synagogue at once a working synagogue, a tourist attraction, and a concert space.

How do you fit it into a visit to Prague?

The building stands on Jerusalem Street in the New Town, close to Prague's historic centre and not far from the main railway station, which makes it an easy stop on a walk connecting the New Town with the Old Town and the Josefov Jewish quarter. It's worth pairing a visit here with a look at Prague's other synagogues and Jewish heritage sites.

Frequently asked questions

Are the Jubilee Synagogue and the Jerusalem Synagogue the same building? Yes — they're two names for the same synagogue on Jerusalem Street. "Jubilee" refers to the circumstances of its construction, while "Jerusalem" refers to its location.

Who designed the synagogue? Viennese architect Wilhelm Stiassny, who blended Art Nouveau with Moorish style and Islamic art elements.

Why was it named "Jubilee"? To mark the 50th anniversary of Emperor Franz Joseph I's reign; the building replaced three older synagogues demolished in Josefov.

Can visitors go inside today? Yes, the synagogue is open to visitors and serves as both an active place of worship and a venue for concerts and exhibitions.