The Organ in Jerusalem Synagogue

was designed and installed by the Prague organ builder Emanuel Štěpán Petr (1853–1930), a native of Opočno, as his 159th instrument. His scope of work was very broad; his workshop was the largest organ-building workshop in Prague, second only to H. Schiffner’s company. This workshop produced musical instruments for more than 40 years, and a total of 351 organs were built there. Among the most significant instruments are the organs at the Church of St. Ludmila in Prague’s Vinohrady district (1898, III manuals/46 stops), St. Cyril and Methodius in Prague’s Karlín district (1898, III/61), St. Maurice in Kroměříž (1910, III/46), St. Ignatius in Prague (1912, II/50), St. Prokop in Prague’s Žižkov district (1912, III/42), as well as organs in Klatovy, Jičín, Hořice, Roudnice nad Labem, Čáslav, Plzeň, and elsewhere. In addition to the Czech lands, Petr built several dozen organs in Poland, Romania, Russia, and overseas. The organ in the Jerusalem Synagogue has 24 stops across two manuals (each of the two manuals has 54 keys for hand playing, and the pedalboard has 27 keys for foot playing), and its undeniable advantage is that it has been preserved to this day in its original condition—both physically and sonically. The organ underwent its only modification in the 1960s, when the original air-supply system (a motor in the attic controlled by a rheostat directly connected to the storage bellows) was replaced by an air pump. The organ case is richly decorated in keeping with the synagogue’s interior—the case façade is flat and consists of two tall pipe towers, between which lies a central section with lower pipe sections. Each section contains 7 pipes. As was customary, particularly in the later works of E. Š. Petr, the organ features a pneumatic exhaust action with a diaphragm windchest. The tone diaphragms are connected by cords to valves, whose pressure is maintained by springs—characteristic features of Petr’s original system. The tuning pitch still corresponds to the time of its construction, meaning that the organ has uniquely preserved the original intonation of a Romantic-era instrument. The organ requires constant minor and major repairs, which is why this fundraising campaign was launched—so that it may continue to resonate for years and decades to come. Thank you.