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Press Release – Jewish Museum: 120 Years
The Jewish Museum in Prague, in cooperation with the National Museum of the Czech Republic, presents the exhibition Prague Jewish Museum: 120 Years, offering visitors an insight into the remarkable history of one of the world's most significant collections of Jewish cultural heritage. From 13 November 2026 to 31 May 2027, the National Museum's Historical Building will provide a unique opportunity to discover rare historical objects, many of which have never been displayed to the public or are emerging from storage after many decades. Highlights include a Hebrew manuscript more than 700 years old, objects from demolished Prague synagogues, rare historical textiles, and personal artefacts documenting the lives of Jewish families in the Czech lands. The exhibition commemorates not only the 120th anniversary of the Jewish Museum in Prague but also the dramatic history of its collections, which have survived despite the tragic events of the 20th century.
The exhibition at the National Museum of the Czech Republic will showcase not only exceptional objects from the collections but also the circumstances surrounding their rescue and preservation during periods of profound historical upheaval and change. It tells the story of an institution that evolved from a museum documenting the disappearing world of Prague's Jewish Town into one of the world's leading centres for the preservation of Jewish cultural heritage.
"We greatly value our cooperation with the National Museum of the Czech Republic, which enables us to present our story within the broader context of Czech history and reach visitors who may not yet have had the opportunity to engage more closely with Jewish history and culture. We want to demonstrate that this is not simply the story of one community, but an integral part of our shared history," says Pavla Niklová, Director of the Jewish Museum in Prague.
"I am delighted that the National Museum of the Czech Republic can commemorate the 120th anniversary of the Jewish Museum in Prague, to which I extend my heartfelt congratulations. The exhibition offers visitors to the National Museum's Historical Building an extraordinary opportunity to see rare historical objects, many of which have never been publicly exhibited, and to discover the stories behind them. I believe it will be a fitting tribute to this important anniversary and, at the same time, a unique experience for our visitors," says Michal Lukeš, Director General of the National Museum of the Czech Republic.
One of the exhibition's most significant exhibits is the Třebíč Mahzor, a Hebrew manuscript more than 700 years old. This exceptionally rare manuscript, which has never previously been exhibited, will be on display in its original form only during the first few weeks of the exhibition. Visitors will therefore have a unique opportunity to see first-hand an object that bears witness to the integral role Jewish culture has played in the history of the Czech lands since the Middle Ages.
The exhibition will also feature rare historical textiles from the 17th and 18th centuries, a selection of ceremonial synagogue silver, and objects from the original furnishings of Prague synagogues demolished during the urban redevelopment of the city. Among them, there will be a collection of artefacts from the Zigeuner Synagogue, which Franz Kafka attended with his father Hermann and where he celebrated his bar mitzvah at the age of thirteen, marking his coming of age in the Jewish religious tradition.
An iconic object accompanying visitors throughout the exhibition's narrative is a ship-shaped ritual spice container. Created by a master Viennese silversmith in the early 19th century, this exquisite vessel for fragrant spices symbolises the museum as a kind of ark, safeguarding precious evidence of Jewish life and presence in the heart of Europe.
"Museums around the world display only a fraction of their collections, while the vast majority of potential exhibits remain in storage. The Jewish Museum in Prague is no exception. However, the reason why some of these unique treasures are only now being exhibited is not simply a lack of space or opportunity. Above all, it is because, from its foundation until the mid-1990s, the museum primarily fulfilled the role of a unique rescue mission. Initially, it preserved evidence of a world of disappearing traditions. It subsequently faced two totalitarian regimes that threatened to erase Jewish memory from history, and finally, attempts to undermine the integrity of its collections by transferring a significant part of them abroad," explains Michaela Sidenberg, Chief Curator of the Jewish Museum in Prague.
The exhibition will also be accompanied by a rich programme of events for the public. These will include guided tours led by the exhibition's creators and curators, meetings with conservators who will introduce visitors to historical techniques, traditional craftsmanship, and the demanding work involved in caring for rare collection objects, as well as educational programmes for schools and workshops for families with children.
The exhibition at the National Museum also serves as an invitation to explore Jewish history and culture further in Prague's Josefov district. Visitors can complement their exhibition experience with a visit to the historic synagogues, the permanent exhibitions of the Jewish Museum in Prague, or the Old Jewish Cemetery – places where the history of Prague's Jewish community unfolded over the centuries.
Mgr. Kristina Kvapilová Head of Public Relations Department NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC T: +420 224 497 250 M: +420 731 514 077 E: kristina.kvapilova@nm.cz
Mgr. Martina Kemrová Communication Manager Jewish Museum in Prague M: +420 603 400 150 E: martina.kemrova@jewishmuseum.cz
