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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 …

Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic and the Foundation for Holocaust Victims, in cooperation with the Office of the Czech Senate and under the auspices of the President of the Senate of Czech Parliament, Miloš Vystrčil, will hold a commemorative meeting in the Main Hall of the Wallenstein Palace.

The Annual Report on Manifestations of Antisemitism in the CR has been drafted by the FJC for the internal needs of the Jewish communities in the Czech Republic and also for the needs of other institutions that process data on antisemitism. The aim of the report is to provide a compact picture, within the scope of the acquired information, of the manifestations of antisemitism and of the trends and social climate in relation to manifestations of antisemitism.

Yesterday, the World Jewish Congress (WJC) formally announced the election of its leadership, including the reelection of Amb. Ronald S. Lauder as President. Petr Papoušek, Chairman of the Federation, was elected to the the Executive committee, Small communities.

On Wednesday, January 27, 2021, for the sixteenth time, a festive commemoration was held on the premises of the Wallenstein Palace in Prague on the occasion of the Day of the Holocaust Remembrance and the Prevention of Crimes Against Humanity. The meeting was organized by the Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic and the Endowment Fund for Holocaust Victims in cooperation with the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, under the auspices of Senate President Mr. Miloš Vystrčil.

On 27 January we commemorate the 76th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau (Oświęcim-Brzezinka). In the Czech Republic, this day has been recognized as the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust and the Day of Prevention of Crimes Against Humanity since 2004. In 2005, United Nations declared 27 January as an International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust.
On 27 January 2021, three major commemorative events will take place in Prague, Terezín and Jerusalem. Due to the current unfavorable epidemiological situation and taking into account the crisis measures of the Government of the Czech Republic, the events will take place in the online space. The online form of the events will enable a participation of a wider audience.

On Friday, a demonstration took place in Prague in support of the current US President Trump, coupled with a protest against governmental epidemiological measures and COVID-19 vaccination. Part of the protesters pinned the star of David with the inscription “unvaccinated” as a symbol of protest against vaccination on their clothes.

Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic and Foundation for Holocaust Victims issued the following statement: “The Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic and the Foundation for Holocaust Victims condemn the exemplary abuse and relativization of the Holocaust symbol associated with the suffering of millions of people. It is obvious that our society needs to be constantly educated. We recommended to all those who resort to such low manifestations of their ideas to visit places associated with the Nazi genocide in our country and abroad. We thank all those who publicly condemned these speeches during today’s Shabbat.“

Romani prisoners of concentration camps and relatives of the victims of Nazism, members of the Committee for Compensation of the Roma Holocaust in the Czech Republic also condemn the abuse of the Jewish star.

Today, the Prague Jewish Community issued an appeal to the general public: “Perhaps, due to today’s coronavirus pandemic, many people have a better understanding of what movement restrictions, limited shopping opportunities, visiting bans, curfews and other restrictions mean.
Nevertheless, for sure no one suffers from hunger, nobody is humiliated, people do not get their bicycle, car, radio or television confiscated. People can go out, visit the park. People’s property is not stolen from them and people are not transported to Terezín and from there, further on to the East in the cattle cars of the trains. Therefore, we beg general public and address the public with the following statement: “Do not use the yellow stars, this way you offend the victims of Nazism.“