Prague’s Jewish Quarter, known as Josefav, has gone from settlement, to walled ghetto, to near extinction, to tourist attraction through the ten centuries of its existence.
When the Nazis invaded Prague during WWII, it was expected that they would destroy Josefav altogether, instead they decided to preserve the cemetery, town hall, ceremonial hall and several synagogs as an “exotic museum of an extinct race.”
Fortunately their plans were foiled.
We became obsessed with The Golem of Prague.
Legend says in the late 16th century, the Golum (a being made from clay and brought to life) was created to order to protect the people of Josefav.
The rabbi that called him forth wasn’t as careful as he should have been with the Golum and the creature turned violent. He had to be killed.
The Golum’s body is said to be kept in the attic of the Synagogue in Josefav, and can be reanimated if he is needed again (windows of the attic are seen in the photo below).
David & Veronica, GypsyNester.com