Jerusalem Synagogue

The synagogue was built between 1905–1906 by a Viennese architect and an Imperial construction supervisor Wilhelm Stiassny, as a replacement for three Synagogues (the Zigeiner, the Velkodvorská, and the New) destroyed in the years 1898-1906 during the redevelopment. Although the association which took up the challenge of building the Synagogue was founded in 1896, it took ten years before the Synagogue was inaugurated on 16 September 1906. Initially it bore the name of the Jubilee Temple of Emperor Franz Joseph to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his reign, in 1898. After WWI, the present name, the Jerusalem Synagogue, based on the street name where it stands, slowly gained ground. The street name has nothing to do with the Synagogue, however: the street is named after the Church of Jerusalem former chapel of St Henry, nearby.

The Jerusalem Synagogue is distinctive in that it is one of only eight Synagogues built to W. Stiassny’s design, where services are still held. The only interlude was during the war years 1941–1945, when it acted as a repository of seized Jewish property.

Besides its religious role, the Synagogue is a cultural and exhibition venue. The concerts regularly held here let visitors listen to the uniquely preserved original organ by Emanuel Stephen Peter.

The exhibition, prepared for the 100th anniversary of Franz Kafka's death, reflects on his work through the work of eleven selected Czech photographers and artists. It is also an invitation to interpret, to discover new perspectives and to immerse into the complex world of one of the most iconic writers of modern times.

In his novels and short stories, Franz Kafka takes us into a world of darkness, anxiety and absurdity. His work is full of mystery, misunderstanding and metaphors that make us question our own reality. This exhibition aims to capture and interpret the essence of Kafka's world through visual language.

Each of the photographers and artists participating in this exhibition bring their own perspective to the ideas and themes of Kafka's work. From surreal scenes and bureaucratic structures to character portraits and architectural symbols, the works on display offer a glimpse into the heart of Kafka's literary imagination.

Sink with us into the Kafka's shadow world, where reality meets fiction, and ideas are transformed into images.