January 17, 2006
Prague's Jewish Museum is celebrating its centenary this year with dozens of events in the Czech capital and around the country as part of a "Year of Jewish Culture". Sited in the centre of Prague's old town, the museum was founded in 1906 by Jewish historians. It safeguarded some of the historic and cultural treasures which escaped the almost total liquidation of Prague's Jewish ghetto during rebuilding of the area by the city's authorities at the turn of the 20th century. Closed after the Nazi occupation in March 1939, the museum became a depot for objects confiscated from local Jews as they were sent to the death camps. The cultural and commemorative Year of Jewish Culture is "aimed to appeal to the public at large and to people who, in spite of their Jewish roots, know nothing today about Judaism", the museum's director told AFP. Lasting throughout the year, the cultural programmed of events so far includes 70 concerts, exhibitions, dancing sessions, public lectures, debates and conferences in Prague and other Czech cities and towns. With around 40,000 exhibits and 100,000 books, the Jewish Museum is today the most popular Czech museum with around a half million visitors annually.
