News

Yesterday we concluded the two-day seminar “Czech Jews – History and Culture, Coexistence of the Minority with the Majority Society, Legacy for Today” with a tour of the Spanish and Old Synagogue. At the beginning of the seminar, FJC Chairman Petr Papoušek welcomed the participants with the words … “monuments are an important element in education and conveying information about the Jewish community, history, culture, a call for respect and tolerance.” The seminar was intended for tour guides, monument managers and all those who care for or are interested in Jewish monuments, and we would like to thank them for their cooperation.

On Wednesday, November 2, 2022, we hosted an international meeting of special envoys and coordinators combating antisemitism organized by the World Jewish Congress in Prague.

As part of the European NOA (Networks Overcoming Antisemitism) project, in cooperation with the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage and the Jewish Museum in Prague, we are organizing a two-day seminar Czech Jews – history, culture, coexistence of minority and majority society, legacy for today.

The fundamental objective of this European-wide event, which has been organised since 2000, is to highlight the diversity and richness of Judaism and its local, regional and national historical importance, with the firm intention of promoting dialogue, recognition and exchange through conferences, concerts, performances, guided tours and other activities, which take place simultaneously throughout the continent.

On Monday, June 11, 2022, the President of the State of Israel Jicchak Herzog with his wife, First Lady Michal Herzog visited the Czech Republic at the invitation of President Miloš Zeman.

Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic (FJC) recorded 1128 antisemitic incidents. In keeping with the trends of recent years, there has been a constant rise – in fact, 254 incidents more than in 2020 (increase of 29 %) when 874 incidents were recorded.

In the opening address, the President of the Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic, Petr Papoušek, mentioned the preparation of a national Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life, which is being worked on by the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with Jewish organizations. The strategy sets out a series of measures articulated around three pillars: to prevent all forms of antisemitism; to protect and foster Jewish life; and to promote research, education and Holocaust remembrance. The strategy is expected to be presented this November in the framework of the upcoming Czech Presidency of the EU Council. President Papoušek also thanked Prime Minister Petr Fiala and the entire Czech government for their support and assistance to Ukraine.

The Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic has begun to plan and coordinate help to refugees arriving in the Czech Republic since the very beginning of the crisis in Ukraine. In the first phase, we located the accommodation capacities in the various Jewish communities across the Czech Republic, we organized volunteers to help us with either interpreting or psychological support and we established an emergency team. The Federation is in daily contact with Jewish communities in the neighbouring countries as well as with the Czech government for better coordination of the aid.

The Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic and the Foundation for Holocaust Victims, in cooperation with the Office of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, held a commemoration meeting today in the Main Hall of the Senate of the Czech Republic on the occasion of the Day of the Holocaust Remembrance and Prevention of Crimes Against Humanity.

On Thursday, January 27, 2022, the symbolic facade illumination of the Old-New Synagogue in Prague in Maiselova Street took place between 5 pm and 11 pm. The Federation of Jewish Communities, the Jewish Community of Prague and JCC Prague, in cooperation with the Signal Festival, have joined the international campaign #WeRemember on the occasion of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, organized by the World Jewish Congress (WJC) and UNESCO. The date commemorates the liberation of the Auschwitz extermination camp in …