RESPECT AND TOLERANCE

                                                                    Educational program, students of Úsov High School, Synagogue Úsov

Children’s choir Carmína from České Budějovice

Synagogue Loštice, June 2009

JANUARY – MARCH
● Introduction of the book Hours of Devotion to the public. Positive reviews from
         Dr. M. Koronthályová (Charles University in Prague) and Prof. F. Kunetka  
         (Palacky University in Olomouc). The book was written in 1854 in Loštice 
         by F. Neuda - the wife of the local rabbi. The first Czech edition of this 
         book was published by the Foundation Respect & Tol. in December 2008.
● Preparation and editing of the publication A few fates of many.
● Preparation of the pious act and religious service to commemorate victims of   
        WWII and the destruction of the Olomouc synagogue (70th anniversary).

APRIL – MAY
● Research and documentation of the Nazi Maternity Ward Camp for Eastern     
         Workers in the nearby village of Dětřichov. Pregnant women were  
         imprisoned there. Records were destroyed, information are sparse.
● Preparation of the plein air Return of the Light III with students and graduates
         of the Olešska Art School in Prague. (Synagogue Loštice).
● Photo documentation of materials re: Jewish history of Úsov (ca. 800 
        documents from the 18th century; Moravian Land Archives in Brno).

JUNE – JULY
● Concert of children’s choirs Větrník of Loštice a Carmína of České   
        Budějovice. (Synagogue Loštice).
● Lecture and meeting with students of the Úsov High School. (Synagogue Úsov).
● Plein air Střítež – Loštice. Students and graduates of the Olesska Art School.
● Plein air White Lady of the Ghetto. Students of the Rýmařov College. (Sy.Úsov).
● Registration and photo documentation of manuscripts from the Loštice 
       Genizah (Over 200 documents from 16 - 19th century. Cooperation with
       the Dept. of Judaic Studies (Palacky University in Olomouc).
● Another transfer (120 books) to Dr. Stanton Canter Library in the Palacky Uni-  
       versity in Olomouc. The library, which presently consists of more than 1000    
       books, was established there by the Foundation R&T in 2006.

AUGUST – SEPTEMBER
● Cooperation with the Videonet Prostějov on a script for DVD presentation about 
        the Jewish writer and poet V. A. Polák (1914 – 1990), who was born in Úsov.
● Educational program – students and graduates of the Přerov Teachers College.  
        Topic: Performing theatre plays with Jewish history themes. (Synag. Úsov).
● Preparation and installation of educational binders in the Úsov synagogue.
● Photo documentation of materials re: Jewish history in the region (ca. 950   
        documents from 19 – 20th  cent.; State Archives in Olomouc and Šumperk).
 
OCTOBER – NOVEMBER
● Completion of the third phase of the Loštice synagogue reconstruction.
● Preparation of two European Union grant applications for programs and the 
          Loštice synagogue reconstruction in 2010.
● Lecture for students of the Troubelice High school. (Synagoue Úsov).
● Lectures for students of high schools in Mohelnice, Litovel and Huzová
           and also for students of the Uničov Technical College.
 
In October Luděk Štipl of the Foundation Respect and Tolerance met with the director of the Olomouc County Education Department. Their meeting resulted in an article, which was published in the Education Magazine of the Olomouc County. The article informs schools about programs (re: History of 20th Century, Holocaust etc.), which the Foundation Respect and Tolerance offers to teachers for presentations to their students.

Throughout the year several groups and professionals arrived to learn more about Jewish history of Loštice, Mohelnice and Úsov - e.g.  the Olomouc Literary Group, Litovel Museum Association, Olomouc Museum Association, Association of Priests of Czechoslovak Hussites Church, Evelyn Friedlander from the Memorial Scrolls Trust in London, Benjamin Richler from the National Library in Jerusalem, George Woodman from Ecumenical Society in Belfast etc. In November Michael Miller from the Central European University in Budapest brought a group of young Jewish people from Hungary, Slovakia and Czech Republic. (Participants of the program Taglit (Birthright), who attended a weekend seminar in Olomouc).

In August Dr. Stanton and Janet Canter arrived to a working visit. The past activities and programs were evaluated and a Five Years Plan concerning future activities was created. Considering present economical and political environment – two primary goals were established:  Education of public, mainly students and preparation of materials for the Teachers Conference. During the visit the preliminary work on a new project/exhibition Ordinary People in Extra Ordinary Times was started. Dr. Canter acquired and donated period documents, letters, photographs, books and artifacts from the prewar and war era 1933 – 1945, which will form a basis for this exhibition. In cooperation with Dr. Stanton Canter and Luděk Štipl another important pioneer project was started. This project is titled Books for Teachers Colleges throughout the Czech Republic. Its objective is founding of libraries with books on Jewish History and teaching Respect and Tolerance in all teachers colleges in the country. 

In 2009 the Loštice synagogue went through the third phase of the reconstruction. In the interior work was done in four rooms, which will be used as a study and library in the future. In the exterior the new facade was applied to the entrance wall, which was in a bad shape for many years. The large Star of David was installed in the gable. The existing star was cut off by the Nazis seventy years ago - in 1939.

In 2009 the Foundation for Holocaust Victims awarded the grant to the Foundation Respect and Tolerance for repairs of the Loštice synagogue and also for selected programs in Loštice and Úsov synagogues. In the same period grants and awards also came from: Dr. Stanton and Janet Canter Family Trust, Congregation Hakafa, Foundation of Jewish Community in Prague and from the Olomouc County.