Tour Guide, Prague, Czech Republic
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Jewish Quarter in Prague is for Jews around the world one of the favorite destinations. Yet only a few of them will ever visit the places and areas in Prague, where the Jews lived from 18th century. Areas of Liben and Smichov although less than 10 minutes ride on Metro distant, are unknown to these pilgrims. The synagogues there are used for other purposes by the local community, and the 18th century Jewish plague cemetery is is forgotten and wasn't destroyed only because of local Gentiles's interest. Majority never learns that the "Jewish Quarter" is the result of Nazi attempt to create a Museum of ancient extinct culture, led by notorious Butcher of Prague Reinhardt Heydrich, who was executed by the Czechs in 1942. That the Maisel synagogue, closed during the Josef II reforms and turned into a factory was restored by the nazis is not mentionned, neither the other places restored during the nazi occupation are. The guides don't take you to these places because of complaints of American tourists who can't understand that driving in some places in Prague is impossible in reasonable time and that the much faster public transport is used by everybody including the government ministers.