The synagogue in Šternberská St is first mentioned as a new building in 1854 –1855. It is an untraditional, late-Classicist or Imperial building having a similar features as the synagogues in Benešov (1845), Nové Strašecí (1856) or Vodňany (1852). There were semi-circular windows in the ground-floor and circular ones above them, 3 in the west front, 4 in the side walls and 3 in the apses (walled-up today), thus it was a very backlit building.
The synagogue in Šternberská St is first mentioned as a new building in 1854 –1855. It is an untraditional, late-Classicist or Imperial building having a similar features as the synagogues in Benešov (1845), Nové Strašecí (1856) or Vodňany (1852). There were semi-circular windows in the ground-floor and circular ones above them, 3 in the west front, 4 in the side walls and 3 in the apses (walled-up today), thus it was a very backlit building.
From the street one would ascend to the hall where on the left hand-side there is a staircase to the women’s gallery located in the western part with corrugated walled windowsill. The big classicist sanctuary with a cragged gable and cartouche and inscriptions was located in the apse on the elevated platform, it is a precious local work (at least 4 Torah scrolls were maintained in the sanctuary in the beginning of the occupation). The interior was enlighted by a smaller brass chandelier and a lot of wall lamps. The main areas consisted of two rows with 10-12 benches for 5 persons ( 100-120 men’s seats in total). The services were taking place up to the thirstiest of 20est century, however only during the main feasts before the war.
All the church equipment was handed over to the Jewish community in Benešov in 1935. After the local Jews deportation, the synagogue was used as the old iron warehouse during the war. After the war the town took over the synagogue building into ownership, another ceiling was made at the gallery level in 1957 whereas the floor was elevated about by 1 m and aligned with the entrance level, the high windows in the lower part were walled up, an apartment was established on the floor and a hairdresser’s in the lower part. The synagogue was transferred into the Jewish Prague community ownership in 1995, the outer facade was renovated by the city, a civic association has been attempting to establish an information centre and an exhibition hall here since 2002. The hairdresser’s was cancelled and the ground –floor adapted to an information centre and exhibition hall (new doors, WC, painting, ceramic paving) in 2003/04. The exhibition hall was made accessible for the first time during the Christmas in 2004, the Jewish museum itinerant exhibition has been taking place since 17.6.2005.