You can now watch Pavel Tychtl and Dušan Swalens’s documentary about the Pacov Jewish community before WWII and during the Holocaust Rodáci bez hrobu (Neighbours Without Graves) in Czech with English subtitles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=805FzP3Eaxc
Last weekend a big step for the Pacov synagogue
The events commemorating the 75th anniversary of the deportation of Jewish residents from Pacov and Černovice to Theresienstadt concentration camp, which we have organized in cooperation with the Černovice Jewish Monument Association, took place on 11 and 12 November 2017 under the umbrella title “Crossroads and Irreversibilities of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands History” in the respective towns.
Jewish communities all over the world are honored to have Torah scrolls from Pacov
American artist and teacher Karen Koblitz talks about her Czech roots
Karen (left) with cousin Beth in front of Julia Koblitz née Meller’s grave at the Baxter Cemetery, Cleveland.
My name is Karen Koblitz and I am a native of Los Angeles, California. I am an artist that works mainly in ceramics and an Associate Professor of Fine Arts, Head of Ceramics in the Roski School of Art & Design at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. My family heritage is Eastern European; Russian, Bohemian and Austro-Hungarian. I am married, my husband, Alan Friedenberg is a retired Elementary School Principal and we have one daughter, Gina, who is a university student, a senior at the University of Southern California studying Spanish and Psychology.
Pacov synagogue: the tangible evidence of historical memory
The Deník Referendum internet daily summarizes the current state of Pacov synagogue in an article published on September 10, 2017. Avaliable here (in Czech only).
Only 2 of 96 Pacov Jews returned home after WWII
The public broadcasting service Český rozhlas has briefly covered pre- and post-war history of Pacov’s Jewish community. Available here (in Czech only).
Nelly Guttmann’s talk at the Pacov high school in June
Ms Guttmann’s recent discussion with local high-school students (photographs included) is also featured on the school’s website (Czech only).
Czech Radio broadcast
On June 14, 2017, the public broadcasting service Český rozhlas covered Nelly Prezma’s recent visit to Pacov as part of their ongoing cycle Příběhy z Vysočiny (Highlands Stories). Available here (Czech only).
Nelly Prezma’s visit to Pacov
We are greatly honoured to have met Nelly in our lovely town, where she spent her childhood as a daughter of the local rabbi. Nelly is a wonderful lady full of zest, optimism, and genuine wisdom. Hopefully we’ll be able to meet again one day and enjoy the sight of a renovated synagogue!
The daughter of the last Pacov rabbi visits the synagogue
On June 9, 2017, the local daily newspaper Pelhřimovský deník published an article about Nelly Prezma née Guttmann’s recent visit to Pacov. Available here (Czech only).