120 Years of the Jewish Museum — Preserving Heritage, Inspiring Future
Jewish Museum in Prague is the 3rd oldest museum of its kind in the world, taking care of one the largest collections of Judaica in the world. Established in 1906, it celebrates its 120th Jubilee in 2026.
I had the pleasure to visit the famous Prague Jewish Museum on Holocaust Memorial Day. It was rewarding to see long lines of visitors waiting to get in, and even more so to note the majority were not Jewish. Indeed, in these days of increasing antisemitism the importance of spreading an educational experience about the plight of the Jewish people has gained critical significance. Escorted by our elegant and charming hostess and a leading light of this museum, Martina Kemrová, it turned into a memorable and enlightened visit. Jewish TV Channel urges our community to both visit the wonderful city of Prague, and to make sure a visit to this museum spread over multiple locations, is a priority!
David Bannister – Founder of Jewish TV Channel
Brief history:
1906 – 1939 It was founded in 1906 by the Jewish Community in Prague. The impulse to its foundation was so called Prague sanitation – a massive demolition and rebuilding in the historical part of Prague which influenced mainly the area of the former ghetto, Josefov aka 5th Quarter. Around 600 buildings were demolished between 1895 – 1942, including synagogues, yeshivas and houses of prayer. The founders – namely the historian Salomon Hugo Lieben and the representative of the Czech-Jewish movement and city councilor August Stein – wanted to establish a place to keep all the liturgical objects and sacred texts from the demolished buildings.
At the beginning, the museum started in a very modest way, the first exhibition was opened in 1909. The former Ceremonial Hall of the Burial Society in the world-wide known Old Jewish Cemetery became the first museum building.
1939 – 1945 The Jewish Museum Association was abolished in autumn 1939 following the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia and the establishment of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. Its collection was taken over by the Prague Jewish community, which—thanks to an initiative by Karel Stein, head of the department for rural affairs—led to the founding of the Central Jewish Museum in 1942. The Nazis approved the project after lengthy negotiations, although their intentions differed significantly from those of the founders.
Under the guise of a “museum,” the institution became a refuge for liturgical objects, books, and archival documents from Jewish communities that had been dissolved. Thanks to the efforts of art historian and chief curator Josef Polák and his colleagues, the museum operated professionally and laid the foundation for the present-day Jewish Museum in Prague.
1945 – 1948 After the war, the museum was placed under national administration. The conditions imposed by the state prevented the Council of Jewish Religious Communities in Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia—legal successor to the disbanded communities—from taking effective control before the Communist coup in February 1948.
1950 –1994 In 1950, the museum was nationalized along with its extensive collections. Its activities were shaped by ideological pressure, which restricted the range of permissible topics and how they could be presented. The Communist regime also hindered the development of specialized research.
1994 – … Research activities resumed only in 1994, when the museum’s buildings were returned to the Prague Jewish community and most of its collections were transferred back to the Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic. On 1 October 1994, the museum regained its independence, marking the beginning of a new chapter in its more than hundred-year history.
The JMP is a non-state, non-profit organization. Since 2022, the institution is led by Director Pavla Niklová.
JMP in numbers
The JMP is one of the most visited touristic targets in Prague and CZ. Yearly, approx. 600,000 visitors from around the globe visit its premises.
At present, the visitors can visit 4 synagogues (Pinkas, Maisel, Spanish and Old-New synagogues) and the Old Jewish Cemetery. Other 3 venues (Klausen synagogue, Ceremonial Hall and Artchul Gallery) have been reconstructed. The Pinkas synagogue serves as a powerful shoah memorial with 80,000 names of victims form Czech lands written on its walls.
The museum offers also wide range of educational and cultural programs, mainly targeted on Czech public, but also enabling the space for intercultural discussions.
Why to visit the Jewish Museum in Prague in 2026?
The year of the Museum´s 120th anniversary is approaching, and the program is already taking shape. Here’s a sneak peek of what’s to come:
- Lecture and Panel Discussion Series (Year-round), English friendly
This series will explore the current relevance and significance not only of our museum, but of Jewish museums across Europe. The opening panel discussion, “The Role of Jewish Museums in Contemporary Europe”, will take place on January 22, 2026 featuring Pavla Niklová (Director of the Jewish Museum in Prague), Joanna Fikus (Chief Curator at POLIN Museum), and Barbara Staudinger (Director of the Jewish Museum Vienna).
Throughout the year, our colleagues will present current museum projects, research findings, and upcoming exhibitions. The series will also include a guided tour of the Jewish Museum’s archive in Smíchov. Interactive formats will invite visitors to engage in discussion and share their insights.
- Opening of a memorial site at the Old Jewish Cemetery will commemorate the museum’s wartime employees, most of whom perished during the Shoa (April 28, 2026)
- Yiddish Films at Ponrepo (March–June) – English friendly
In collaboration with Ponrepo Cinema and Filmoteka Narodowa (Poland), we’re preparing a special series of pre-war Yiddish films.
These screenings will offer a deeper look into the cultural and historical heritage of Yiddish, showcasing traditions and everyday life in pre-war Jewish communities of Central Europe.
- One-Day Festival “Synagogues Come Alive” (April 19, 2026) – English Friendly
A day of open synagogues will offer free access to the Spanish, Maisel, Pinkas, and Klausen synagogues, along with a vibrant program: Performances by students of Lauder Schools, a Ladino concert, klezmer music, and workshops on traditional Jewish dance and Hebrew. For children, we’re preparing a creative workshop and an interactive treasure hunt “Searching for the Golem.”
- Jiří Fiedler: Archivist on a Bicycle (June 9, 2026 – January 2027) – English friendly
An exhibition dedicated to our colleague Jiří Fiedler, who spent many years actively documenting Jewish heritage in the Czech Republic. He published the unique work Jewish Monuments in Bohemia and Moravia, capturing many communities that no longer exist.
- Exhibition: 120 Years of the Jewish Museum in Prague (National Museum, November 13, 2026 – May 2027)
The highlight of the year-long celebrations will be a retrospective exhibition about the museum, held in the historic building of the National Museum under the patronage of President Petr Pavel.
Featured Image: Exterior Klausova Synagogue – Courtesy Jewish Museum Prague
