The Untold Story of Prague's Jewish Ghetto Massacre

Rabbi Yitzhak of Vienna, author of the 'Or Zarua,' Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel - the Maharal, Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz - the Shelah, Rabbi Jonathan Eybeschutz, Rabbi Yom Tov Lipmann Heller, author of the 'Tosefet Yom Tov,' Rabbi Yechezkel Landau, author of the 'Noda B'Yehuda'. What do all these names have in common?

At first glance, they all seem to be renowned rabbis whose influence on Judaism is still felt today. But they share more than that: this is just a partial list of rabbis who lived and worked in Prague.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the Jewish community in Prague was one of the most illustrious in Europe. Its history is rich with famous yeshivas, great rabbis who resided there, and even a legendary Golem. Jews have been in the Prague area since its inception as the seat of Bohemian kings. In fact, Jews played a vital role in transforming the city into what it is today.

The city of Prague was likely established in the second half of the ninth century, with the construction of a castle on a hill above the Vltava River, which is the Prague Castle. Located in Central Bohemia, right at the heart of Europe, the city was founded by the Přemyslid dynasty of Slavic origin. There isn't much clear evidence regarding when Jews first settled in Prague. It is speculated that Jews lived there in the ninth century, but written accounts of their presence date back only to the tenth century.

The difference between a sprawling city and an insignificant settlement often lies in commerce. Trading is the economic engine that contributes to the growth of new cities. Commerce provides employment, attracting people to migrate to the city. Conversely, those seeking to buy goods frequent the city and stimulate its economy. However, transforming a rural village into a thriving city requires knowledge that farmers typically lack. Skills such as literacy, proficiency in various goods and their uses, financial management, loan acquisition, and more are necessary. Jewish individuals were often more urbanized and educated than their rural, less knowledgeable Christian neighbors, and they possessed a particular knack for capitalizing on new opportunities. These Jewish traders were pivotal economic growth drivers for Prague, a burgeoning city. City authorities recognized the economic potential of Jews, granting them protected status and shielding them from the pogroms, expulsions, and decrees common elsewhere in the region.

In the 13th century, authorities began imposing residency restrictions on Jews, clustering many into a specific district known as "Josefov." Initially, Jews were allowed to operate outside the Jewish quarter for business and work, but their relatively comfortable existence in Prague began to sour. In 1389, after the revocation of their protected status, Christians attacked the Jewish quarter during Passover, indiscriminately massacring the residents. This tragic event is known as 'The Great Prague Massacre,' and Rabbi Avigdor Kara composed a lament for it, which remains in Prague's traditional prayer books today.

In 1557, Ferdinand I, King of Bohemia and Emperor of the Roman Empire, declared the expulsion of all Jews from Moravia. However, due to economic needs, the decree was softened, consolidating Jews within the Josefov quarter instead. From that point, this area became a ghetto.

The ghetto was surrounded by walls and enclosed with gates. Guards stationed at the gates restricted the Jews' movement. Often, Christians locked the ghetto, preventing Jews from leaving. Nevertheless, within the sealed ghetto walls, Jews thrived and flourished, elevating Prague's Jewish community to unprecedented heights.