Jewish Cemetery In Prague

The Old Jewish Cemetery in Prague is the oldest Jewish cemetery in Europe and was established at the beginning of the 15th century, when Jews were forbidden to bury their dead outside of their own district.  

The cemetery contains approximately 12,000 tombstones.  

As the Jewish community flourished in Prague, the cemetery became too small.

Laws (against the Jews) would not allow for the purchase of more land for burial.  

To accommodate their deceased, earth was brought in and people were buried on top of already existing graves, with the old tombstones being raised to the surface.  

There are some area of the cemetery where people are buried 12 layers deep.  

This accounts for the close proximity and unevenness of the tombstones.

The Hebrew letters are mostly faded, I became fascinated with the symbols, often on the top of the tombstones, which have withstood the test of time.  

Symbols such as a pitcher were for Jews from the tribe of Levites and hands for those from the tribe of Kohen, the priests descendant of Aaron. (Both pictured above)

Others symbols represented professions: 

Physicians had a lancet, Tailor would have scissors and an Apothecary a mortar. 

click on any collage to make it larger

Dr. J and I visited the day after a rain fall which somehow felt and looked perfect.  
We walked slowly and quietly and it was beautiful.