FEW FATES OF MANY

VLASTIMIL ARTUR POLÁK - AVALOS

Born in Usov in 1914, this poet and prose writer was one of the few Usov Jews who survived imprisonment in a concentration camp. Polak wrote his humanistic and anti nationalistic works in German. The most famous of his works is a compilation of over 200 poems entitled, "Die Stadt der schwarzen Tore” (The Town of Black Towers), from the period 1938-1947.

Here we can find stories of life during the occupation, literary portraits of people from the transports and Terezin, and thoughts on love and peace. The war ended when Polak was in Terezin and he got an award for his anti Nazi resistance. His small compilation of poems was published in Vienna in 1975 and "Der erloschene Leuchter “ (The Snuffed Candelabra) was released in Olomouc in 2003. He also collected old Jewish tales from Usov, which were published in 1996 under the title, "Bílá paní z ghetta” (A White Lady From the Ghetto).

Before the war Polak wrote satirical articles against local Nazis for the newsletter Distel (Thistle), which he published with his Czech and German friends in Usov. Hugo Silbersky, a young artist from Lostice, did some illustrations for his articles. After 1945 V. A. Polak worked and lived in Olomouc (d. 1990). A wife of the artist Mrs. Olga Polakova translated most of his writings to Czech.

SHORT HISTORY OF
FIVE GENERATIONS OF DIRECT

KERRY´S ANCESTORS IN THE TOWN OF ÚSOV

CZECH REPUBLIC

Information re: Úsov Ancestors of Kerry Family was prepared by the working team

RESPECT AND TOLERANCE

The team documents the Jewish history and culture in former Jewish communities in the towns of Loštice, Mohelnice and Úsov in Czech Republic

The project is focused on photo documenting houses in the former Jewish quarters and tombstones in the Jewish cemeteries. The recording of oral history is also an important part of the project. We work with people who had personal and social contacts with members of the Jewish community and are now willing to share their stories, memories or documents.

History of Jewish settlement in our region goes back to 1454, but very little attention has been given to this subject so far. The project Respect and Tolerance is a small contribution to the process of filling in that absence. History of Jewish communities in the Loštice area until the Nazi occupation is a story of peaceful coexistence of Jewish and Christian inhabitants. There is plenty of evidence that in the period before WWII, Jews were fully integrated into the society and took vital part in cultural and social life of their towns.

We believe the exhibition and publication regarding the history of Jewish communities in Loštice, Mohelnice and Úsov can be used as evidence that tolerant coexistence of people with different religious and racial background was, and is, possible. In our divided world such a message is still essential and very important.

“…to remain silent and indifferent is the greatest sin of all…” Elie Wiesel

“…to remain silent and indifferent is the greatest sin of all…” Elie Wiesel

Working team
Stanton Canter, Karel Faltýnek, Petr Fialek, Hana Heidenreichová,
Lukáš Koval, Jiří Ošanec, Luděk Štipl, Josef Švábenický and Jan Weiser

Honorary member
Elie Wiesel, Winner of the Nobel Peace Priz

Illustrations on the front page
The Town Square and Jewish Quarter, Postcard, Úsov ca 1915

SHORT HISTORY OF
FIVE GENERATIONS OF DIRECT

KERRY´S ANCESTORS IN THE TOWN OF ÚSOV

(FORMERLY MÄHRISCH AUSSEE)

CZECH REPUBLIC

PREPARED BY
LUDĚK ŠTIPL
JIŘÍ OŠANEC

WITH ASSISTANCE OF
JANET & STANTON CANTER
PETR FIALEK
HANA HEIDENREICHOVÁ

USOV 2004

TOMBSTONE OF LEOPOLD LÖWY (1791–1867)
(verso)
Leopold was the grandfather of Ida Kerry.
Ida Kerry was the grandmother of John and Cameron Kerry.
Jewish cemetery in Úsov
Photo L. Štipl

Ida Kerry's father Siegfried Löwe was born in Úsov on September 12th, 1834. His father Leopold Löwy owned the house #XXVI which still exists (presently #159 Neruda Street). His grandparents, great grandparents and their families used to live in Úsov since 1716. Most of them are resting in the local Jewish

THE ABBREVIATED FAMILY TREE

The Úsov Ancestors of the Kerry Family
Please see the more detailed pedigree chart in the back

JOHN AND CAMERON KERRY

JOHN KERRY

nar. 11.12.1943, Aurora, USA

RICHARD KERRY
Father

(m. to Rosemary Isabel Forbes)
(28 Jul 1915 – 29 Jul 2000)

IDA LÖWE
Grandmother

(m. to Frederick Kerry/ Kohn)
(22 Feb 1877 in Budapest, Hung.- 19 Jan 1960, USA)

SIEGFRIED LÖWE
Great grandfather

(m. to Josephine Löw)
(12 Sep 1834 in Úsov, Czech Rep. – 31 Mar 1918 in Vienna, Austria)

LEOPOLD LÖWY
Great gr grandfather

m. to Katty Stern)
(1791 prob. in Usov - 19 Apr 1867 in Boskovice, buried in Usov)

SCHENDL
Great gr-gr grandmother

(m. to Selig Löwy)
(d. 26 Sep 1800 in Úsov, buried in Úsov)

MENKE LEIPNIKER LÖWY
Great gr-gr-gr grandfather

(m. to Golda)
(d. 29 Dec 1790 in Úsov, buried in Úsov)

ABRAHAM LEIPNIKER LÖWY
Great gr-gr-gr-gr grandfather

(m. to Torriah)
(b. ca 1700 – d. 29 Oct 1774 in Úsov, buried in Úsov)

MORDECHAI LEIPNIK
Great gr-gr-gr-gr-gr grandfather

The Chief Rabbi of Timişoara (now Rumania)
(b. ca 1680)

BARUCH
Great gr-gr-gr-gr-gr-gr grandfather

The Chief Rabbi of Timişoara (now Rumania)
(b. ca 1660)

ABRAHAM LEIPNIKER LÖWY

Great gr-gr-gr-gr grandfather

Also: ABRAHAM HA-LEVI BRODE, BEN MORDECHAI
(b. ca 1700 – d. 29 Oct 1774 in Úsov, buried in Úsov)

Abraham Leipniker Löwy came to Úsov in 1716. Both his father and grandfather used to serve as Chief Rabbis in Timişoara (now Rumania). Abraham Leipniker was elected as the chairman of the Jewish community in Úsov in 1751. He became well known for his fights for the religious rights of his congregation. Abraham was a leader of deputations to several courts, including deputations to the Imperial court in Vienna, where he succeeded thanks to his diplomatic skills. He recorded his achievements and philosophy in the writings titled: M'GILATH S'DARIM - An Unwritten Chapter in the History of the Jews of Moravia. As he mentioned in his writings, during the services on the Eighth Day of Holy Convocation, Jews of Úsov, in the recognition of his merit, used to sing the commemorative hymns, which he composed.

He lived in his own house #XXIII, which still exists in Úsov (presently #262 - 5. května Street). Abraham Leipniker played a great part in activities, which later resulted in the re-establishment of the synagogue in Úsov. This 18th century synagogue also still exists there.

THE FORMER JEWISH QUARTER WITH THE SYNAGOGUE
Úsov 2004
Photo J. Velíšek

RECORD RE: ABRAHAM LEIPNIKER LÖWY
Register of the Jewish Cemetery
Úsov 1920's