The Altneushul (1966)

The Altneushul (1966)

7"x10.5" B/W edition 40 pieces

The Altneushul was the first lithograph released by Emanuel Schary. He was 42 years old. Throughout his career as an artist, many pictures hung in his ever changing studio. The one constant was this lithograph which hung in the center of the wall he worked across from.

Located in Prague, the Altneushul it is one of the oldest functioning shuls in the world. In Yiddish-"Alt-neu means-"old-new." It was erected in the 13th century, with many additions. When the first shul became too small for the congregation, they built a new shul named-"The New Shul."

After the third shul was built, the second shul became known as the old-new shul. The walls remained untouched by new paint for centuries due to the mysteries of people dying after attempting to paint them. Above the heads (ceiling) of the worshippers are codes- phrases inscribed on the walls. When the low-hanging brass candelabras were lit to honor the Jewish Holidays and the Sabbath, the flames looked like stars on the walls and ceilings.

The most unusual custom of the Altneushul was the saying of Psalm 92 twice on Friday evening.