Doesn’t the name Starý židovský hřbitov na Smíchově evoke whispers of history? This Old Jewish Cemetery on Smíchov, also called Radlický, holds stories of a community finding its place. It stands as a testament to lives lived and a faith persevered.
Founded in 1788, the Starý židovský hřbitov na Smíchově emerged from necessity. Space dwindled at the Jewish cemetery in Prague’s Josefov district. As Jews moved to Smíchov around 1787, a new burial ground became essential.
Picture this. You are transported back to the late 18th century. The Prague ghetto is opening. Jewish families are seeking new homes in the suburbs. Smíchov offered refuge and with it, the need for a final resting place.
The Starý židovský hřbitov na Smíchově occupies a sloping plot on the northern side of Brabence hill. It overlooks the Radlické valley. Enclosed by a stone wall with its original gate, the cemetery merges with the surrounding parkland. This creates a unified green space.
Within this nearly square plot of just over 1500 square meters lie around 600 headstones. Of these, 422 are visible. These stones tell a story of evolving styles. You will find Baroque, Neogothic, Classicist and modern designs. The most recent burial dates back to 1937.
Among those interred at the Starý židovský hřbitov na Smíchově is Rabbi Dr. Samuel Back. He was a prominent figure in Smíchov from 1841 to 1899. Many headstones bear German verses. These reflect the assimilation of Jews in the late 19th century. Some even show traces of photographs of the deceased. Green glass was often used as a decorative element.
A small, historically significant Classicist building stands on the southern side of the Starý židovský hřbitov na Smíchově. This former burial house dates to the 19th century. Renovated in the early 2000s, it has been converted into a residential space.
Sadly, the Starý židovský hřbitov na Smíchově suffered damage in the 1980s and 90s. Vandals desecrated the site. Headstones were toppled and stolen. Overgrowth threatened to consume the area. The perimeter wall was also badly damaged.
Since 1994, the cemetery has undergone continuous restoration. The Jewish Community of Prague manages the site through Matana a.s. They oversee the maintenance of most properties owned by the Jewish community and the Federation of Jewish Communities.
Zuzana Pavlovská from the Jewish Museum in Prague notes the unique character of the Starý židovský hřbitov na Smíchově. Its distance from the city center gives it a rural feel. Originally holding approximately 600 graves, around 487 remain. The oldest are in the central part of the cemetery.
Today, visits to the Starý židovský hřbitov na Smíchově are possible by appointment. Contact the administrators for access. The cemetery is undergoing a revival with ongoing tombstone restoration and planned wall repairs.
As you leave the Starý židovský hřbitov na Smíchově, consider its resilience. Despite neglect and vandalism, it stands as a place of remembrance. It embodies the enduring spirit of Smíchov’s Jewish community.