Full Moon in Prague - and a little Czech history

October 1, 2012 - Michael

It's just after midnight here in Prague. This is the first night I haven't been able to sleep. It's not jet lag, though. It's the cigarette smoke wafting in through the open hotel window on this mild fall night. The full moon also shone in for a couple of hours before moving on. I have many thoughts about the history of the Czech's you may read on my journal (Michael's journal). Probably best for mature readers.

Today the Czech Republic is a prosperous and free nation where something like 70% of the population consider themselves nonreligious, although they are proud of their religious history as seen by the hundreds of churches they have preserved.

Today we toured the preserved Jewish Quarter. The oldest synagogue in Prague, the Altneuschul or Old New Synagogue, was built in the 13th century and is still in use today. 

The last photo for this blog post depicts one of two vaults in this synagogue that were used to store money to pay the exorbitant taxes imposed on the Jewish community in earlier times.

And Andrea adds: The present Prague seems to be a model for tolerance and acceptance. My heart has more hope for humanity than in past.