1. Introduction
2. Profile of the Jewish Museum in Prague
3. 2003 attendance statistics
4. New exhibitions
5. Contacts and collaboration in the Czech Republic
and abroad
6. Specialist and research work
7. Educational activities
8. Cultural activities
9. Publications and retail activities
10. Archives and documentation
11. Collections
12. Library
13. Computer network
14. Technical and construction projects
15. Prominent visits
16. Sponsors’ donations
17. Donations provided by the JMP
Attachments: information about economy JMP
In its eighth year as an independent institution, the Jewish Museum
in Prague focused on further developing all areas of its activity.
At the same time, however, it had to continue dealing with the restoration
of damage caused by the devastating floods of August 2002. Worst
affected were the Pinkas Synagogue and the two newly refurbished
buildings which have served as the Museum’s administrative and specialised
centre since 2001. In total, direct flood damage to the Museum’s
real estate amounted to CZK 15.9 million, while damage to movable
assets and supplies has been put at CZK 6.3 million. The administrative
and specialised centre was brought back into full operation in the
first half of 2003, but the Pinkas Synagogue, which houses the memorial
to the victims of the Shoah from Bohemia and Moravia, could not
be opened to the public until October 2003. A certain amount of
minor restoration work on the synagogue is set to continue until
March 2004. On account of our due insurance coverage, the support
of numerous donors, additional investments and the professionalism
of the Museum’s specialist staff, we managed to return all the flood-damaged
buildings to their original state, as well as making a number of
improvements. The work and supplies that have been completed will
make it possible to prevent further damage in case of future flooding
and, at the same time, will ensure greater security for visitors.
For most of the year tourism remained stagnant, as it has been since
the terrorist attacks on America in September 2001. The Museum’s
economic results were adversely affected by the strengthening of
the Czech crown against the dollar and euro, as well as by ever-increasing
operating costs as a result of the general economic situation of
the country. We have confronted these trends in part by staff cuts
through reorganisation, and in part by an economic program that
has affected all areas of the Museum’s activity. Overall, our retained
earnings, together with insurance coverage of direct and indirect
flood-related damage, were sufficient for the Museum to carry out
its mission in 2003 without having to make any major restrictions.
The Museum’s achievements in 2003, for which all of its employees
deserve credit, are detailed in the following report.
On 31 December 2003, the Museum had records of 135 full-time employees.
In the course of the year, the Museum employed the services of 125
people on a part-time or specific contractual basis.
a) Properties managed by the JMP
- Office complex, U Staré školy 1, 3, Prague 1: Museum administration,
specialist workplaces, depositories, Library, Reference Centre,
café, Robert Guttmann Gallery
- Maisel Synagogue: in the main nave, the permanent exhibition The
History of the Jews in Bohemia and Moravia –
I. From the First Settlements until Emancipation. 145
originals and facsimiles on display
- Pinkas Synagogue: in the main nave, the Memorial to the Victims
of the Nazi Genocide of Bohemian and Moravian Jews; in the gallery,
the permanent exhibition Children’s Drawings from Terezín. 238 originals
and facsimiles on display.
- Klausen Synagogue: in the main nave, the permanent exhibition
Jewish Customs and Traditions – I. The Synagogue and Festivals;
in the gallery, the permanent exhibition Jewish Customs and Traditions
– II. The Course of Life. 474 originals and facsimiles on display.
The JMP Reservation Centre is also located on the premises.
- Ceremonial Hall: Continuation of the permanent exhibition Jewish
Customs and Traditions – II. The Course of Life. 140 originals and
facsimiles on display
- Spanish Synagogue: in the main nave and gallery, the exhibition
The History of the Jews in Bohemia and Moravia –
II. From Emancipation to the Present. 535 originals and
facsimiles on display
- Spanish Synagogue – Winter Prayer Hall: permanent exhibition Synagogue
Silver from Bohemia and Moravia. 193 objects on display
- Robert Guttmann Gallery: exhibition venue for temporary shows
- Education and Culture Centre of the JMP, Maiselova 15, Prague
1
- Old Jewish Cemetery, dating from the 15th-18th century
- Jewish Cemetery in Fibichova Street, Žižkov, dating from the 17th-18th
century
- Former synagogue in Smíchov, dating from the 1930s – future JMP
archive centre
- Main textile depository, housed in a 19th century rural synagogue
- Synagogue in Brandýs nad Labem, dating from the 19th century –
future storage area for part of the JMP Library
b) Services provided by the JMP
- Tours of the Old Jewish Cemetery, the Jewish Cemetery in Žižkov,
and five permanent exhibitions in historic buildings
- Tours of temporary exhibitions in the Robert Guttmann Gallery
- Special lectures and tours organized by the Education and Culture
Centre of the JMP
- Seminars on Jewish themes
- Cultural programmes on Jewish themes at the Education and Culture
Centre of the JMP
- Access to basic Judaic literature and special software in the
Reference Centre
- Use of the ORT computer room, which is focused on Jewish subject
matter, with access to the Internet and special software
- Specialized library services for professionals and the general
public
- Consultation for professionals and the general public on issues
related to the history of Bohemian and Moravian Jews
- Consultation for professionals and the general public on issues
related to the persecution of Bohemian and Moravian Jews during
the Second World War
- Historical illustrated materials available for reproduction
- Own publications and publicity material
- Advanced booking via the JMP Reservation Centre
- Guided visits
- Audio-guides (in association with Gallery Service, s.r.o.)
| Attendance figures for
the year 2003 |
Month |
Total
number of visitors |
|
|
Special educational programme
|
|
|
|
Adults |
Children |
Adults |
Children |
Jan. |
13
701
|
|
10 300
|
2 999 |
92
|
310 |
Feb. |
15
419
|
|
9 825 |
5 011 |
79 |
504 |
Mar. |
37
352
|
|
18 304
|
17 080 |
131 |
1
837
|
Apr. |
53
768
|
|
31 194
|
20 315 |
299 |
1
960
|
May |
55
339
|
|
40 478
|
11 978 |
369 |
2
514
|
Jun. |
45
892
|
|
33 545 |
10 134 |
251 |
1
962
|
Jul. |
56
348
|
|
39 867
|
15 860 |
283 |
338 |
Aug. |
71
358
|
|
55 198 |
15 499 |
334 |
327
|
Sep.
|
57
111
|
|
42 778 |
10 697 |
246 |
3
390
|
Oct. |
48
892 |
|
35
446
|
9 960 |
235 |
3
251
|
Nov. |
31
965
|
|
23 314
|
7 019 |
236 |
1
396 |
Dec. |
30
309
|
|
22 926
|
6 155 |
127 |
1
101
|
TOTAL
|
517
454 |
|
363
175 |
132
707 |
2
682 |
18
890 |
a) Permanent exhibitions
- Pinkas Synagogue
After undergoing repairs and reconstruction, necessitated by flood
damage in August 2002, the memorial to the victims of the Shoah
from Bohemia and Moravia was reopened to the public on 1 October
2003.
The permanent exhibition A Children’s Story – Children’s Drawings
from Terezín, 1942-1944 was reinstalled on the first floor of the
synagogue. An informative text about the programme Art in Extreme
Situations (organized by the Education and Culture Centre of the
JMP) was added to the introductory part of the exhibition.
b) Temporary exhibitions
Robert Guttmann Gallery:
- Michal Singer – Paintings from 1999-2002, 7 November – 26 January
2003 (curator A. Pařík in association with the collection department)
- Mountain of Mountains. Aleš Veselý’s Desert Projects, 12 February
– 6 April 2003 (curator M. Hájková)
- Silenced Tones – The Life and Work of the Czech Jewish Composers
Gideon Klein and Egon Ledeč, 16 April – 15 June 2003 (curators A.
Franková, J. Šplíchalová)
- Adolf Kohn. Painter of the Prague Ghetto, 26 June – 26 September
2003 (curator A. Pařík)
- Long-lost Faces - Recollections of Holocaust Victims in Documents
and Photographs, 16 October – 23 January 2004 (curators A. Franková,
J. Šplíchalová)
c) JMP exhibitions outside Prague, involvement in
exhibitions organized by other institutions (loans and consultation)
Czech Republic
- For Dignity and Adornment – Synagogue Textile Treasures from Bohemia
and Moravia, an exhibition of synagogue textiles from the JMP’s
collection, held in the Imperial Stables, Prague Castle, 26 March
– 23 June. The largest ever presentation of synagogue textiles from
the JMP’s collection ever to be held. (E. Kosáková, L. Kybalová,
D. Veselská, H. Votočková, V. Nauschová, M. Kropáčková, J. Stankiewicz,
depository administration)
- Děčín Synagogue: JMP panel-based travelling exhibitions Jewish
Customs and Traditions and History of the Jews in Bohemia and Moravia,
16 July – 28 October 2003 (curator A. Pařík)
- Regional Museum of Náchod: JMP panel-based travelling exhibitions
Jewish Customs and Traditions and History of the Jews in Bohemia
and Moravia, 6 November – 30 November 2003 (curator A. Pařík)
- Úštěk Synagogue: exhibitions Synagogue Reconstruction, History
of the Jewish Community in Úštěk and History of the Jewish Education
in Bohemia and Moravia, opening 10 September 2003 (curator A. Pařík,
cooperation V. Hamáčková)
- Regional Museum of K.A.Polánek in Žatec – loan of 8 silver items
for a temporary exhibition
- National gallery in Prague – loan of two Max Ernst paintings for
an exhibition at the Trade Fair Palace, Prague
- Museum of Český Ráj in Turnov – loan of 21 items for the exhibition
Neighbours Who Disappeared
- Higher Technical School of Graphic Art, Prague and Graphic Art
School Secondary Industrial School of Graphic Art, Prague – loan
of metal items (restored by students as part of their specialised
practice for assessment in school-leaving examinations)
- McCann Erickson Praha advertising agency – loan of a Hanukkah
lamp to be photographed in a Beit Praha advertising campaign
- Terezín Memorial – Ghetto Museum: document searches and securing
the production of copies for a flood-damaged exhibition (A. Franková,
J. Šplíchalová)
- Inmates from the Czech Lands in Auschwitz: document searches and
securing the production of copies for a flood-damaged exhibition
for the Państwowe Museum in Auschwitz, at the request of the Terezín
Memorial (J. Šplíchalová)
- A Year of Memories of Jewish Neighbours in Jičín project and the
exhibition Neighbours Who Disappeared: preparation of background
material, searches in the JMP’s database of Shoah victims and in
the JMP’s collection of testimonies from Shoah surivors (P. Kořínková)
II. Abroad
- Virginia Holocaust Museum, Richmond, VA, USA – loan of facsimiles
of children’s drawings for a new permanent exhibition
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, DC, USA –
loan of 15 original children’s drawings for a temporary exhibition
- Simon Wiesenthal Center, Los Angeles, USA – loan for the exhibition
Friedl Dicker Brandeis (Vienna 1898 – Auschwitz 1944) (1 March 2003
– 31 August 2004)
- Historisches Museum Saar, Saarbrücken, Germany – loan of five
original children’s drawings for the exhibition Bilder als Zeugen
(23 November 2003 – 22 February 2004)
- Pascal Huyhn, selection of material and consultation for the exhibition
Le nazisme et la musique v Cite de la Musique, Paris (A. Franková,
J. Šplíchalová)
The JMP worked with 50 foreign and 99 local political, administrative,
cultural, academic and educational institutions:
I. Czech Republic
- Adolf Kašpar Memorial, Loštice
- Association of Museums and Galleries in the Czech Republic
- Arma Bohemiae, history society
- Bashevi Association, Jičín
- Beit Praha
- Břeclav City Museum and Gallery
- Brno City House of Art
- Brno City Museum
- Bruntál Museum
- Černovice Memorial Civic Association
- Česká palička Civic Association, Prague
- Český Kras Museum in Beroun
- Cheb Art Gallery
- Cheb Museum
- Comenius Museum in Přerov
- Commission for the Registration of Manuscripts of the Czech Academy
of Sciences, Prague
- District Museum of Mělník
- District Museum of the Orlické Mountains, Rychnov nad Kněžnou
- District Museum of Prague-East, Brandýs nad Labem
- District Museum of Příbram
- Dobruška Municipal Museum
- Eastern Bohemian Museum in Pardubice
- Embassy of the State of Israel in the Czech Republic
- Ethnographic Society of the Czech Republic
- Faculty of Nuclear Engineering, Czech Technical University, Prague
- Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic
- Fra Publishing House, Prague
- Gideon Klein Foundation
- Gallery Cyrany, Heřmanův Městec
- Hallmark Office of Prague
- Hans Krása Foundation, Terezín
- Hazkara Civic Association, Ústí nad Labem
- Heřmanův Městec Municipal Authority
- Higher Technical School of Graphic Art, Prague
- Holešov Municipal Cultural Centre
- ICOM, CEICOM
- Institute for Contemporary History at the Czech Academy of Sciences,
Prague
- Institute of Folk Culture in Strážnice
- Institute of Restoration and Conservation Techniques, Litomyšl
- Institute of the Terezín Initiative, Prague
- Jewish Community of Brno
- Jewish Community of Děčín
- Jewish Community of Karlovy Vary
- Jewish Community of Liberec
- Jewish Community of Olomouc
- Jewish Community of Ostrava
- Jewish Community of Pilsen
- Jewish Community of Prague
- Jewish Community of Teplice
- Jewish Community of Ústí nad Labem
- Krnov Synagogue Civic Association
- Kynšperk nad Ohří Friend Club
- Liberec District Art Gallery
- Lukavec Municipal Authority
- Matana a.s., Prague
- McCann Erickson Praha, advertising agency
- Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic
- Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, Department for the
Protection of the Cultural Heritage of Museums and Galleries
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic
- Ministry of the Interior Archives, Prague
- Moravian Gallery in Brno
- Moravian Land Archive in Brno
- Moravian Provincial Museum in Brno – Ethnographic Institute
- Mudroněk Municipal Museum of Local History, Říčany nr. Prague
- Museum of Central Bohemia in Roztoky
- Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague
- Museum of Dr. A. Hrdlička, Humpolec
- Museum of Local History in Olomouc
- Náchod District Museum
- NAGA advertising agency, Prague
- National Gallery in Prague
- National Heritage Institute, Central Office, Prague
- National Heritage Institute, specialized workplace in Prague
- National Heritage Institute, specialized workplace in Pilsen
- National Heritage Institute, specialized workplace in Ústí nad
Labem
- National Library of the Czech Republic
- National Museum in Prague
- National Museum Archives, Prague
- New York University, Prague
- North Bohemian Museum in Liberec
- Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees – Czech Section,
Prague
- Podbořany Municipal Authority
- Podještědí Museum of Karolína Světlá, Český Dub
- Polabí Museum in Poděbrady, Regional Museum of Nymburk Section
- Polná Museum
- Post-Office Museum, Prague
- Prague Castle Administration
- Prague City Archives
- Prague City Gallery
- Prague City Museum
- Prague Institute for the Care of Historic Monuments
- Provincial Museum of Silesia in Opava
- Red Cross Rescue Service, Prague
- Regional Museum in Kolín
- Regional Museum of Mikulov
- Regional Museum of K.A.Polánek, Žatec
- Regional Museum of Vysočina, Jihlava, Polná Section
- Road and Railway Museum, Velké Meziříčí
- School of Chemical Technology, Institute of Metal Materials and
Corrosion Engineering, Prague
- Secondary Industrial School of Applied Art and Higher Technical
School in Turnov
- Shalom Civic Association in Bečov nad Teplou
- South Bohemian Museum in České Budějovice
- State Central Archive, Prague
- State District Archive in Cheb
- State District Archive in Kroměříž
- State District Archive in Přerov
- State District Archive in Rychnov nad Kněžnou
- State District Archive in Svitavy, Litomyšl
- State District Archive in Tachov
- State Institute for the Care of Historic Monuments, Pilsen
- State Regional Archive in Litoměřice
- State Regional Archive in Litoměřice, Žitenice branch
- State Regional Archive in Prague
- Tachov District Museum
- Terezín Memorial
- Tovačov Castle Museum
- Třebíč Municipal Cultural Centre
- Třebíč Municipality
- Třešť Museum
- University of Southern Bohemian in České Budějovice
- Vamberk Lace Museum
- Walachian Open-Air Museum, Rožnov pod Radhoštěm
- West Moravian Museum in Třebíč
- Žamberk City Museum
Abroad
- Aktion Sühnezeichen, Bayerische Verwaltung der staatlichen Schlosser,
Nymphenburg, Germany
- Aktion Sühnezeichen, Dresden, Germany
- American Joint Distribution Committee, USA
- Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Beit Theresienstadt, Israel
- Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People, Jerusalem,
Israel
- Czech and Slovak Jewish Communities Archive, New York, USA
- Dokumentačné centrum českej kultúry, Martin, Slovakia
- Gedenkstätte Bergen – Belsen, Germany
- Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
- Historisches Museum Saar, Saarbrücken, Germany
- Hitachdut Yotzei Czechoslovakia in Israel, Israel
- Hochschule für Jüdische Studien, Heidelberg, Germany
- Holocaust Museum and Learning Center, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Imperial War Museum, London, UK
- Institut für Buchrestaurierung, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, München,
Germany
- Institut für die Geschichte der deutschen Juden, Hamburg, Germany
- Institut für Geschichte der Juden in Österreich, St. Pölten, Austria
- Institut für Kulturgeschichte der Textilien, Universität Dortmund,
Germany
- Institut für Zeitgeschichte der Universität, Vienna
- Institute of Jewish Studies, Bratislava, Slovakia
- Institute of Microfilmed Hebrew Manuscripts, Jewish National and
University Library, Jerusalem, Israel
- International Council of Museums, Paris, France
- Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel
- Israel Postal Authority, Philatelic Service, Tel Aviv-Yaffo
- Jewish Heritage Council, New York, USA
- Jewish Museum London, UK
- Jewish Museum New York, USA
- Jewish National and University Library, Department of restoration
and conservation, Jerusalem, Israel
- Jewish Theological Seminary, New York, USA
- Jüdisches Museum, Berlin, Germany
- Jüdisches Museum, Vienna, Austria
- Mahon Yerushalayim, Jerusalem, Israel
- Miyazaki Prefectural Art Museum, Miyazaki, Japan
- Münchener Stadtmuseum, München, Germany
- Musée d´Art et d´Histoire du Judaisme, Paris, France
- Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rennes, France
- Museum für Angewandte Kunst, Vienna, Austria
- Museum of Art, Ehime, Japan
- Museum of Contemporary Art, Sapporo, Japan
- Museum of Jewish Heritage, New York, USA
- Museum Ostdeutsche Galerie, Regensburg, Germany
- Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art, Okayama, Japan
- Palais des Beaux-Arts, Lille, France
- Państwowe Museum w Ośwęcimiu, Poland
- Polski Institut Historyczny, Warszawa, Poland
- Project Judaica Foundation Inc., Washington, USA
- Saitama Hall, Saitama, Japan
- Shalem Center, Jerusalem, Israel
- Simon Wiesenthal Center – Museum of Tolerance, Los Angeles, USA
- Skirball Cultural Center Los Angeles, USA
- Společnost pro vědy a umění / Czechoslovak Society of Arts and
Sciences, Rockville, USA
- Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Stuttgart, Germany
- Stiftung Neue Synagoge – Centrum Judaicum, Berlin, Germany
- Stiftung Topographie des Terrors Berlin, Germany
- Synagogue Art Research, Jerusalem, Israel (B. and R. Dorfmanovi)
- Štátny archív v Košiciach, Slovakia
- Tokyo Fuji Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan
- Tokyo Holocaust Education Resource Center, Japan
- Torah Scroll Centre, London, UK
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington DC, USA
- University of San Francisco
- Virginia Holocaust Museum, Richmond, VA, USA
- Vlastivedné múzeum Prešov, Slovakia
- Východoslovenské múzeum v Košiciach, Slovakia
- William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum, Atlanta, USA
- Yad Vashem, Israel
a) Preparation of new exhibitions
- Preparatory work for the exhibition Transports from the Protectorate
of Bohemia and Moravia in 1942 to the East – study of archive documents,
photograph searches (J. Šplíchalová)
- Preparation of the exhibition Emil Orlik – Portraits, Studies,
Sketches at the Robert Guttmann, preparation of the catalogue and
press material (A. Pařík)
- Preparation of the exhibition Jews and Sport at the Děčín Synagogue
(A. Pařík, Collection Department)
- Material searches and preparation of the concept for the exhibition
Alexander Brandeis and Adolf Wiesner (A. Pařík)
b) Material for local and foreign institutions and
researchers
- Cooperation with genealogists and local historians – preparation
of literature searches and provision of consultation (A. Franková,
J. Šplíchalová)
- Prof. David Bloch (Israel). Consultation, selection and preparation
of material relating to Terezín music (K. Svobodová)
- Drawing up of comments regarding the proposed text of Atlas of
Czech History, Vol. II., published by Kartografie Praha (A. Franková,
J. Šplíchalová)
- Sofia Pantouvaki: Creativity in Defiance of Tyranny – Children’s
Artistic Creation in Theresienstadt, Central Saint College of Art
& Design, The London Institute. Consultation and securing the
production of copies of photographs (P. Kořínková, J. Šplíchalová)
- Beate Meyer, Institut für Geschichte der deutschen Juden, Hamburg.
Expert consultation on the theme Members of the Terezín Council
of Elders from the Ranks of German Jews (J. Šplíchalová )
- Background material for a speech by Deputy Prime Minister P. Rychetský
on the occasion of the laying of wreaths at a memorial plaque for
deported Jews, as part of the Nine Gates project, June 2003 (A.
Franková)
- Photograph searches and production for the publication Acta Theresiania,
Vol. 1, 2003, Daily Orders of the Council of Elders and Notifications
of the Jewish Self-Government, Terezín, 1941-1945
- Photograph searches and production for Terezín Studies and Documents,
2003 (J. Šplíchalová )
- Securing the production of photographs of a window in the Spanish
Synagogue donated by Mr. And Mrs. Pereles. Data identification and
searches relating to the fate of the family of Judit Pereles from
the UK (K. Svobodová)
- Background material searches for an article on a performance of
Verdi’s Requiem in the Terezín ghetto – Šmorancová, Rider Reagest
Publishing House, Prague (A. Franková)
- The Re--emigration of Former Ravensbrück Inmates to Eastern Europe:
Freie Universität Berlin, Dr. Christa Schikorra. Selection of 31
testimonies from the JMP’s collection of testimonies from Shoah
survivors, securing the production of CD copies (P. Kořínková)
- Terezín – Those who Survived: Milenia Jadran Gallery project,
art photographer Jadran Šetlík. Selection of photographs of selected
survivors, contact arrangements (P. Kořínková)
- The Structure of Women’s Behaviour in Terezín, Anna Hájková, Institute
of the Terezín Initiative. Background material searches, consultation
(P. Kořínková)
- Nicholas Winton. Assessment of seminar work (A. Franková)
- School debates on the Holocaust, securing the production of photographs
for the Terezín Initiative (K. Svobodová )
- Friedl Dickers Brandeis. Material searches and securing the production
of copies of archive documents for research by A. M. Versantvoort,
University of Nijmegen, Holland (A. Franková, K. Svobodová)
- Family History, Daniela Torsh, Australia. Background material
searches (K. Svobodová)
· Lost Neighbours – Litomyšl. Consultation with Litomyšl school
children and their teacher, data searches relating to Shoah victims,
proof-reading of a text prepared for publication (A. Franková)
c) Research activities
I. Department of Jewish Studies
Research topics:
- Judaica in the Archives of the Czech Republic – Archive of the
Ministry of the Interior, State Central Archive in Prague, Moravian
Provincial Archive in Brno, State District Archive in Tachov, State
District Archive in Česká Lípa, State District Archive in Kroměříž
(V. Hamáčková, D. Polakovič, A. Putík)
- Epigraphs – synagogues and Jewish cemeteries (V. Hamáčková)
- Demography of the Jewish population of Bohemia and Moravia, archive
research (J. Fiedler)
- Bibliography and reference aids for the history of Jews in the
Czech lands – setting up of a comprehensive bibliographic database
with records from the earliest times until 1918 (D. Polakovič)
- Hakhmei Bohemiya u-Moraviya: biographical and bibliographical
database of personages – rabbis, darshanim and authors of Hebrew
books, dating from the 12th–20th centuries (D. Polakovič)
- Social history of the Prague Jewish Community in the 17th and
18th centuries (A. Putík)
- The Sabbatanian movement in Bohemia (A. Putík)
- The internal policy of the Prague Jewish community in the 17th
and 18th centuries (A. Putík)
II. Collections Department
Research topics:
- History of the Jewish Museum in Prague, 1906 – 2006 (M.Veselská)
- Josef Polák (1886-1945) (M.Veselská)
- Moravian synagogue textiles, 1640 – 1940, in the context of European
textile Judaica (D. Veselská)
- Lace – special features of use in the Jewish cultural milieu (D.
Veselská)
- Identification of Brno producers of spice boxes (J. Kuntoš)
- A.B. Baecher silver (J. Kuntoš)
- Jewish Artists’ Presence in Contemporary Visual Art; in 2003,
this experimental project, which aims to present the work of contemporary
artists at the Robert Guttmann Gallery, included the exhibition
Mountain of Mountains. Aleš Veselý’s Desert Projects (M. Hájková)
n Jewish artists, patrons and collectors in the Czech art world,
1867 – 1939. (M. Hájková)
III. Holocaust Department
Research topics:
- History of the Holocaust of Bohemian and Moravian Jews. Study
of specialist literature and archive sources for consultations,
literature searches, lectures and publications (A. Franková, J.
Šplíchalová)
- The lives and works of musicians Egon Ledeč and Gideon Klein (A.
Franková, J. Šplíchalová)
IV. Library
Research topics:
- Provenance of the JMP book collection. Addition of biographical
and topographical information to the database in connection with
a retrospective inspection of the collection with the aim of ascertaining
original ownership (A. Braunová)
- Description of Hebrew printed books from the collections of the
District Museum in v Louny (A. Braunová)
- Jewish literature, manuscripts and printed books in Bohemia and
Moravia (O. Sixtová)
- Genizah as a source for the history of Jewish communities in Bohemia
and Moravia (O. Sixtová)
a) The Education and Culture Centre (ECC) of the JMP
I. Educational programmes for Czech schools (elementary
and high schools, universities, in-service education for teachers)
- 6,460 people took part in the Centre’s Prague-based programmes,
466 in programmes outside Prague. The Workshop art and drama project
involved the participation of 1,170 school children.
§
- 493 visitors from Germany, USA, Holland, Russia and Spain took
part in educational programmes at the Centre.
III. Retraining courses for tour guides
- Retraining courses were attended by 62 tour guides.
IV. Seminars
- Two three-day seminars on How to Teach about the Holocaust, were
held in association with Terezín Memorial and attended by 103 teachers.
- A series of educational seminars (launched in 2001) for teachers
on Jewish History, Traditions and Culture and Education for Tolerance
continued. It was held in association with pedagogical centres (Ústí
nad Labem, Central Bohemia, Brno, Hradec Králová, Pardubice), the
Centre for School Services in Most and Jablonec nad Nisou, and Jewish
communities outside Prague (Děčín) and was attended by 60 teachers.
V. Projects
- The Neighbours Who Disappeared project continued. This project,
which is intended for elementary and high school pupils, focuses
on compiling testimonies from Holocaust survivors and witnesses.
It involves (among other things) preparing a history of Jewish settlement
in a particular region or drawing up a report on the condition of
local Jewish monuments. The project is co-ordinated and promoted
by the ECC, which prepares the results for publication and, in cooperation
with other groups, for film stories. In 2003, the first four exhibition
panels with information on the results of the project were translated
into English and prepared for production. As part of this project,
the Zámecká Elementary School in Litomyšl put together the project’s
first separate regional publication and an exhibition panel commemorating
the victims of the Holocaust. Thanks to the cooperation of the Hidden
Children organization and a grant from the national Fund for Holocaust
Victims, the exhibition was accompanied by a catalogue (2,000 copies)
and a publication of the work of the Litomyšl children (500 copies).
The exhibition was subsequently on display at nine other venues
and was featured in the Schola Pragensis exhibition in Prague. Participants
of the Neighbours Who Disappeared project presented their work at
an international seminar of the European Association of Shoah Survivors
and an international seminar for teachers at the Terezín Memorial,
where the exhibition is on permanent display and has been seen by
more than 2,000 visitors. The Neighbours Who Disappeared project
involves over 100 collectives and individual persons from Bohemia
and Moravia, as well as the active participation of several non-profit
organizations, museums and municipal cultural facilities and libraries.
- The travelling exhibitions Anne Frank – Legacy for the Present
and A Children’s Story – Children’s Drawings from the Terezín Ghetto
continued. These exhibitions, which are being co-held by the Anne
Frank House in Amsterdam and the JMP, were presented at the Municipal
Library of Blansk (15 January – 7 February 2003) and at the Litomyšl
Museum and Gallery (28 May- 29 June 2003) and were seen by 100 groups
of school children.
- The Workshop art and drama project (launched in 2000) continued.
Focusing on Jewish festivals, traditions and customs, biblical stories,
Jewish history (with emphasis on the Holocaust period) and culture,
this project offers the following topics to children from all types
of schools:
- Jewish Traditions and Customs (Pesach, Sabbath, Hanukkah, Purim);
- Research into Judaism;
- The Hebrew Alphabet;
- Noah’s Ark;
- Art in Extreme Situations;
- Aryeh, Your Guide to the Jewish Town (since 2003);
- The Ghetto that Disappeared (since 2003);
- The Holocaust in Documents (since 2003);
- Reflections – Perpetrators, Rescuers and Others (since 2003).
- Hana’s Suitcase (since 2003)
- Research into Judaism is an interactive alternative to the lecture
The Jewish Year. It involves students working in small groups, each
focusing on a separate topic from Jewish life (Sabbath, Pesach,
Jewish cuisine, birth and circumcision, and the wedding). Use is
made of various texts, pictures, photographs and ritual objects
and, at the end of the workshop, each group presents the results
of its work to the others.
- The Hebrew Alphabet focuses on the origin and development of the
Hebrew alphabet, the meaning of the Torah, its appearance, symbolic
decorations and basic rules of its production and writing. The practical
part of the project involves making a scroll, writing in Hebrew
script and quizzes.
- Noah’s Ark involves children looking for animals among the exhibits
in the Klausen Synagogue and on tombstone reliefs in the Old Jewish
Cemetery. In the practical part of the project, children draw stories
and are set various individual tasks.
- Art in Extreme Situations is inspired by the example of children
from the Terezín ghetto who were helped by adults to come to terms
with the harsh life of the ghetto through art. This project includes
a tour of the exhibition of Terezín children’s drawings at the Pinkas
Synagogue, which is conducted by a person who was incarcerated in
Terezín as a child. After the tour, the students are encouraged
to express their feelings of racial and religious intolerance through
art.
- Since April 2003, Aryeh has offered the youngest visitors a tour
of the JMP with the use of a new workbook Aryeh, Your Guide to the
Jewish Town. The cartoon guide to the Jewish sites of Prague is
Aryeh the lion cub, whose picture can also be seen on exhibits that
are related to various tasks in the workbook which the children
have to solve.
- A new project, The Ghetto that Disappeared, focuses on a history
of houses that have either disappeared or are still standing in
the Josefov district of Prague and is intended mainly for children
who attend school in the centre of Prague. Working on their own,
the children are given the task of tracing the history of houses
that either no longer exist in the reconstructed area or have changed
in the course of time. The project may results in small exhibitions
at schools or to various cultural events.
- The Holocaust in Documents is a new project with interactive programmes
for elementary and high schools. It involves five work groups analysing
documents connected with five stages of the Holocaust and was launched
in association with the House of the Wannsee Conference.
- The project Reflections – Perpetrators, Rescuers and Others was
launched in association with the London Imperial War Museum. Participants
try to determine the above groups on the basis of photographs and
specific stories.
- Another new project Hana’s Suitcase offers an overview of basic
information of the anti-Jewish measures that were introduced during
the Nazi occupation, with particular emphasis on the impact they
had on children. It is based on the particular story of Hana Brady,
which was recounted by Karen Levin in the book of the same name.
The book has been published in Czech by Portál with the financial
support of the JMP.
- Launched in April 2003, Sunday Workshops are special programmes
on selected topics that are intended for children (from youth centres,
special-interest clubs, etc.) accompanied by their parents or other
adults, and also for schools.
VI. Activities of the ORT centre
- The JMP website was given a new graphic presentation and the content
was extended and supplemented on an ongoing basis.
- A website for the Neighbours Who Disappeared project was launched.
- The services of the ORT computer centre were used by 1,277 visitors.
Assistance was provided in the use of special software programs
based on Jewish themes (e.g. Encyclopaedia Judaica) and in data
processing.
VII. Library and videotapes
The Library was open to the public three times a week and offered
the use of reference books and videotapes.
- Total number of reference books – 2,719; acquisitions – 430.
- Total number of films and documentaries on videotape – 211; total
number of ECC lectures on videotape – 367; acquisitions – 40 films
and documentaries, 56 ECC lectures.
VIII. Participation in conferences, symposia, discussions,
lectures
- The ECC continued its series of thematic lectures connected with
a tour of the JMP’s permanent exhibitions and a viewing of specific
objects and historical documents related to the Jewish past, together
with occasional film screenings. The series is intended for children
from elementary, high and higher technical schools and university
students. It comprises seven core lectures:
- The Jewish Religion, Culture, Tradition and Art, Biblical History
- The History of the Jews in Bohemia and Moravia
- Important Jewish personages in art and science in the context
of Czech culture
- Contemporary Israel
- History of anti-Semitism, persecution, Shoah, racism and xenophobia
- The Persecution of Jews in the Second World War
- Rescuers and Rescued (personal narratives of Shoah survivors,
accompanied by film screenings).
- Participation in the international seminar How to Teach about
the Holocaust at the Terezín memorial, 20-23 November 2003 (M. Vančurová,
M. Zahradníková, K. Kofroňová). The EEC presented the projects The
Hebrew Alphabet, Reactions and Neighbours who Disappeared.
- Two 2-day seminars were prepared for pedagogical staff at the
Ministry of the Interior on History of the Jews, Manifestations
of Anti-Semitism in Czech Society and The Holocaust of Czech Jews
during the Second World War.
- ECC Director Dr. Miloš Pojar gave a series of lectures for students
at the Charles University Faculty of Social Sciences (Specific Problems
from the Modern History of the State of Israel) and for the New
York University in Prague (Modern History of Central European Jewry).
Dr. Pojar also organized a further 21 lectures on the history and
the present-day situation of Czech Jews, the State of Israel, and
the Middle East situation for various groups from the Czech Republic
and abroad.
- Dr. M. Pojar and Dr. L. Pavlát took part in the conference Proyecto
Golem 2003 - 5764 which was held in Buenos Aires in association
with the Argentine Embassy in Prague. Dr. Pojar’s lecture was entitled
The Czech Kingdom and Prague during the Reign of Emperor and King
Rudolfa II (1576–1611), L. Pavlát’s lecture was entitled The Jewish
and non-Jewish Golem.
- As part of the EEC’s activities, Dr. L. Pavlát gave 8 lectures
on Jewish traditions and customs, anti-Semitism and the history
of Jews in Bohemia and Moravia (also for the Palacký University
in Olomouc, the Society of Christians and Jews, and various state-run,
Jewish and Christian organizations).
- 11 lectures were given at the EEC by specialist JMP staff (D.
Veselská, A. Putík, M. Hájková, J. Kuntoš, A. Pařík).
IX. Preparation of publications
- Workbook for the project Aryeh - Aryeh, Your Guide to the Jewish
Town I. (M. Tesařová)
- Workbook for the project Aryeh - Aryeh, Your Guide to the Jewish
Town II. (M. Tesařová)
- Collection of EEC lectures The Jewish Minority in the 1920s (M.
Zahradníková)
- Collection of essays The Golem in Religion, Science and Art (M.
Pojar, D. Grosman
b) Department of Jewish Studies
I. Participation in conferences, symposia, discussions,
lectures
- Conference Jews and Moravia, Kroměříž, November 2003. Lectures
Synagogue Textiles in Archive Sources (V. Hamáčková) and Maharal
and Moravia (D. Polakovič)
- The Messianic Movement in Bohemia (A. Putík on the occasion of
the signing of a contract between the JMP and the Institut für Geschichte
der Juden in Austria, 30 January 2003
II. Media cooperation, publications and reviews
- The Jewish Community in Kardašova Řečice, in Our Days were Fulfilled.
From the History of the Jews in Southern Bohemia (J. Fiedler)
- Jewish houses in Vodňany in the 2nd quarter of the 19th century,
in Our Days were Fulfilled. From the History of the Jews in Southern
Bohemia (J. Fiedler)
- On the establishment of Jewish cemeteries in Vodňany and Protivín,
in Our Days were Fulfilled. From the History of the Jews in Southern
Bohemia (J. Fiedler)
- Essays on Jewish communities in the 6th volume of the Karel Kuča’
encyclopaedia Města a městečka v Čechách, na Moravě a ve Slezsku
[Cities and Towns in Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia] (published by
Libri) (J. Fiedler)
- Assessment of student theses and reviews (J. Fiedler)
- ‘Professor Vladimír Sadek: Bibliography of Works’ for Judaica
Bohemiae XXXIX (D. Polakovič)
- "Vypočujte si pesničku peknú..." Staršia jidiš poézia
v Prahe v 17.-18. storočí and jej predstavitelia [Old Yiddish poetry
in Prague in the 17th-18th centuries and its representatives], in:
Acta Universitatis Carolinae - Philosophica et Historica 2, 2001
(D. Polakovič)
- ‘Prague Jews and Yehudah Hasid’ /2/, in Judaica Bohemiae XXXIX
(A. Putík)
- ‘Historie z barokní Prahy’ [A Story from Baroque Prague. Rabbi
Moses Mendels, Rabbi Lipman Heller and Jacob Bashevi], Židovská
ročenka (Jewish Yearbook) 5764. 2003/2004 (A. Putík)
III. Preparation of publications
- Judaica Bohemiae, XXXVIII / 2002 (edited by A. Putík)
- Textiles from Bohemian and Moravian Synagogues from the Collections
of the Jewish Museum in Prague (English copy edited by A. Putík,
maps designed by J. Fiedler)
c) Holocaust Department
I. Participation in conferences, symposia, discussions and
lectures
- Terezín Initiative meeting, 3 March 2003 (A. Franková)
- The Holocaust and Genocide in the Twentieth Century, Berlin, 12
–15 March 2003 (J. Šplíchalová)
- OSZE – Konferenz zu Anti-Semitisms, Vienna, 19 – 20 June 2003
(J. Šplíchalová)
- Jahrestagung der AG Jüdische Sammlungen Berlin, 9 – 12 September
2003 (J. Šplíchalová)
- Brundibár in Terezín after 60 Years, Terezín, 23 September 2003
(A. Franková)
- Jews in Eastern Europe, National Library in Prague, 20 May 2003
(A. Franková)
- The Genocide of Romas in the Period of the Second World War, Prague,
27 May 2003 (P. Kořínková)
- Holocaust Denial – Nine Gates Festival, 23 June 2003 (K. Svobodová)
II. Media cooperation, publications and reviews
- Preparation of background material for a text on Bedřich Weiss
for the CD In Defiance of Fate (A. Franková)
- Journalist Karsten Peters (Hamburg), Erinnerungen deutschsprachigen
Tschechen und Slowaken, (A. Franková, J. Šplíchalová)
- Background material searches and arrangements for the screening
of the documentary film Nebát se strachu [Don’t Be Afraid of Fear]
on a Czech voluntary help project in Terezín and on Dr. Karel Rašek
– Czech Television (ČT 2) (A. Franková)
- Document and photograph searches for the documentary film Terezín,
Milan Television, directed by Jan Ronca (A. Franková, J. Šplíchalová)
- Background material searches for the DVD Hans Krása, Brundibár,
Mirka Havrdová, Unlimited Media, s.r.o. (J. Šplíchalová)
III. Study visits
- Study of archive materials in the Bundesarchiv in Berlin, in cooperation
with the Institute of the Terezín Initiative and the Terezín Memorial
(J. Šplíchalová)
- Study stay in the Jelínek Vizovice company archive (A. Franková
)
- Aš, 1918 – 1948 – No Comment, consultation with the exhibition
authors (A. Franková).
d) Collections Department
I. Participation in conferences, symposia, discussions and
lectures
- Commentated tours for the exhibition For Dignity and Adornment
for Prague Information Service, Society of Friends of the Museum
of Decorative Arts, and the general public (D. Veselská)
- The Innocent Eye: On a Teacher and Her Pupils, lecture and workshop
for the opening of an exhibition of children’s drawings from Terezín,
Holocaust Museum and Learning Center, St. Louis, MO, USA, 7 – 8
April 2003 (M. Hájková)
- National Colloquium on Legislation, organized by AMG (Association
of Museums and Galleries), Brno, 9 –10 September 2003 (E. Kosáková,
H. Mlsová)
- 12th seminar of restorers and historians, organized by the State
Central Archive in Prague, 7-8 October 2003 (M. Kropáčková, J. Stankiewicz)
- Conference The Contribution of Czechs to the Preservation of the
Cultural Heritage of Slovakia, paper on Dr. Josef Polák, organized
by the Documentary Centre of Czech Culture in Martin, Slovakia,
23 October 2003 (M.Veselská)
- Unveiling of a memorial plaque for Dr. Josef Polák, Košice, 29
October 2003 (preparation of background material for a leaflet,
speech – M.Veselská)
- International conference The Lost Heritage of Cultural Assets,
organized by the Institute for Modern History at the Academy of
Sciences of the Czech Republic – Centre for the Documentation of
Property Transfers of the Cultural Assets of Victims of the Second
World War, Brno, 20-21 November 2003 (M.Veselská)
- Museums in the Process of Transformation, organized by AMG, Brno,
24 – 26 November 2003 (D. Veselská)
- Study stay in the Museum für Angewandte Kunst, Vienna, 11–13 November
2003, preparation of the exhibtion Lacework from the Collections
of the Jewish Museum in Prague (D. Veselská)
- Continued study in the specialized course Care of the Cultural
Legacy of the Past, Institute for Art History, Philosophy Faculty
of Charles University, Prague (D. Veselská)
- Seminar for conservation experts and restorers, organized by AMG
(P. Veselý, M. Jarešová)
- Seminar for metal restorers, organized by AMG and the Turnov Secondary
School of Applied Arts and Higher Technical School (M. Jarešová)
II. Media cooperation, publications and reviews
- Textile Treasures from Bohemian and Moravian Synagogues, article
for Ateliér magazine, 12/2003 (D. Veselská)
- A shot for an early morning Czech Television show for the exhibition
For Dignity and Adornment (D. Veselská)
- Article Brno Jewish Silver from the collections of the Jewish
Museum in Prague, Rovnost daily newspaper, October 2003 (J. Kuntoš)
- Training of lecturers and guides in the production techniques
of items in the collections, EEC, May 2003 (J. Kuntoš)
- Securing and supervision of expert restoration work in the metal
restoration workshop undertaken by 6 students of secondary technical
schools, expert consultation and participation in school-leaving
examinations (M. Jarešová, P. Veselý)
- Preparation of a concept and background material for the Dictionary
of Judaica (E. Kosáková, D.Veselská, J.Kuntoš, M.Veselská).
e) Library
I. Participation in conferences, symposia, discussions and lectures
The Post-War History of the Book Collection of the Jewish Museum
in Prague, a paper given at the international conference Raub und
Restitution in Bibliotheken in Vienna (23-24 April 2003, A. Braunová)
f) Exhibition, Publicity and Public Relations Department
I. Participation in conferences and symposia
Lecture Restitution in the JMP (L. Pavlát) - delivered by A. Pařík
at the annual meeting of the Association of European Jewish Museums
in Berlin (16–18 November 2003)
II. Media cooperation, publications and reviews
- Regular cooperation with the press, radio and television stations
– current affairs, news, cultural programmes, radio broadcasts of
the Jewish Community of Prague Shalom Aleykhem, brief interviews
for Czech Radio and Czech Television in connection with the opening
of exhibitions at the Robert Guttmann Gallery and the reopening
of the Pinkas Synagogue (L. Pavlát, J. Smékalová, A. Pařík, A.Franková,
J. Šplíchalová, M. Hájková, E. Kosáková, M. Pojar, M. Vančurová).
- Completion (in September) of an annual advertising campaign on
Radio Classic FM (L. Pavlát, A. Pařík, M. Hájková, A. Franková)
- Czech Television filming at the Robert Guttmann Gallery – Adolf
Kohn. Painter of the Prague Ghetto
- Press conferences for individual exhibitions at the Robert Guttmann
Gallery and subsequent articles in the press
- Interview about the JMP and the Jewish community in Bohemia and
Moravia (L.Pavlát, Radiožurnál, 4.1. 2003)
- Discussion on anti-Semitism in Europe – Czech Section of BBC Radio
L. Pavlát, 18 November 2003)
- Regular contributions on Jewish themes to Thought for the Day
on the BBC Czech Section’s early morning show (L. Pavlát)
- Participation in the television programme Vertical (L. Pavlát,
30.12 2003)
- Series of 7 radio programmes on Jewish prayer – for Radio Vltava
(L. Pavlát, September – December 2003)
- Reviews of Jewish topics in textbooks for elementary and high
schools for the Ministry of Education of the Czech Republic and
for various publishers (L. Pavlát)
- Advertisements:
- Regular features in the periodicals Overview of Cultural Programmes,
Czech Culture, Prague, the Heart of Europe
- Occasional features in the Catalogue of Museums and Galleries,
New Books, Book World, various periodicals for the exhibition Long-lost
Faces
III. Preparation of publications
- Textiles from Bohemian and Moravian Synagogues from the Collections
of the Jewish Museum in Prague (L. Kybalová, A. Putík, M. Veselská,
D. Veselská, H. Votočková, V. Nauschová, M.Scheibová, M. Hamáčková,
P. Kliment, D. Cabanová, H. Vašková; edited by E. Kosáková and A.
Putík). This publication won a prize in the competition The Most
Beautiful Books 2003 (held by the Czech Ministry of Culture in association
with the Museum of Czech Literature”) in the category of scientific
literature.
- Synagogue texiles CD – in Czech, English, French, German, Italian
and Spanish (D. Veselská, M. Veselská)
- Film about the JMP and its synagogue textiles, directed by I.
Pavlásková
- For Dignity and Adornment – exhibition leaflet in Czech and English
(D.Veselská)
- Prague Jewish Cemeteries – guide (A. Pařík, V. Hamáčková, D. Cabanová,
P. Kliment)
- CD In Defiance of Fate. Fritz Weiss and His Arrangements – recordings
from 1940-1941
- A. Veselý. Mountain of Mountains, exhibition catalogue (M. Hájková)
- Adolf Kohn – exhibition leaflet (A. Pařík)
- Adolf Kohn. Painter of the Prague Ghetto, exhibition catalogue
(A. Pařík)
- Silenced Tones – exhibition leaflet (J. Šplíchalová, A. Franková)
- Long-lost Faces – exhibition leaflet (J. Šplíchalová, A. Franková)
- Contributions to the JMP quarterly Newsletter on exhibitions and
reconstruction projects
- Encyclopedia of Jewish Communities in Bohemia and Moravia on the
Internet (containing about a fifth of the thousand envisaged entries,
which are begin supplemented on an ongoing basis (J. Fiedler, H.
Vašková)
IV. Permission to use JMP material
76 permissions were issued for use of books, magazines, promotion
and study purposes – 57 for foreign clients, 19 for local clients.
V. Grant applications for support of JMP activities
The JMP filed a total of 12 grant applications in 2003 – five with
organizations abroad, seven with organizations in the Czech Republic.
Four grants, amounting to about CZK 370,000, were accepted. These
are earmarked for the JMP’s activities in 2004, when they will be
provided.
a) Cultural events at the Education and Culture Centre
(ECC) of the JMP
The ECC organized a total of 100 cultural programmes and events,
54 of which were lectures, either part of series or on separate
topics. The lecture series included: The World of Halakhah (development),
European Jewish Politicians of the Modern Era, The Jewish Minority
in the Czechoslovak Republic in the 1920s and The Jewish Minority
in the Czechoslovak Republic in the 1930s. Among the lecturers were
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Karol Sidon, academics and guests from abroad.
The ECC also hosted five concerts and recitals, three book presentations:
Není spravedlnosti na zemi [ There is no Justice on Earth] by O.
Stránský, Hanin kufřík [Hana’s Suitcase] by K. Levinová and Hledání
identity – [Search for Identity] by K. Jančaříková), as well as
the presentation of the publication Golem in náboženství, vědě and
umění [The Golem in Religion, Science and Art], four evenings with
authors, four opening shows and eleven lectures organized by Beit
Praha. In association with the National Film Archive, five films
were screened at the Ponrepo Cinema.
In May the EEC hosted a seminar on Shalom Aleichem, at which four
lectures were given.
b) JMP participation in trade fairs
- 9th Book World International Trade Fair in Prague, 24–27 April
2003, at which the JMP’s new publications were on display.
- 8th Trade Fair of Museums of the Czech Republic in Třebíč, 28–30
May 2003, at which the JMP’s publications (old and new) were on
separate display.
c) Programmes in the Spanish Synagogue
The Spanish Synagogue hosted 22 concerts of classical music organized
by the AGADA agency (Music Heritage of the Jewish Culture) and 69
concerts organized by Opera Ars Magna (song recitals Jewels of the
Jewish Masters in Old Prague). Running until September, there was
also a production here of the musical Golem by Hamutal Ben Zeev-
Ephron and Shlomo Gronich, which was organized by the Israeli agency
Golem Theater Ltd.
The Arco Diva Agency completed its second series of concerts for
season-ticket holders, Prague Musical Evenings in the Spanish Synagogue,
in April 2002 and launched its third series in October. During this
series, the guitarist Lubomír Brabec presented a number of celebrated
guests – pianist Martin Kasík, cellist Jiří Hošek, violinist Pavel
Šporcl, harpist Kateřina Englichová, organist and harpsichordist
Jaroslav Tůma and flautist Žofie Vokálková.
In 2003 guitarist Lubomír Brabec completed the third series of
classical music concerts for season-ticket holders, Lubomír Brabec
Presents Prague Musical Evenings in the Spanish Synagogue. Among
his celebrated guests were violinist J. Svěcený, baritone I. Kusnier,
tenor Š. Margita, violist J. Hosprová and the Kubín Quartet. The
fourth series was launched in October, with major guests including
guitarists P. Janda and L. Andršt , clarinettist L. Peterková and
pianist J. Tůma. The Spanish Synagogue also hosted other concerts
organized by the JMP.
Religious services of Beit Praha were also held in the Spanish Synagogue.
a) JMP publications and souvenirs, promotional material
- New publications:
- Catalogue of synagogue textiles Textiles from Bohemian and Moravian
Synagogues from the Collections of the Jewish Museum in Prague (1,500
copies in English)
- Judaica Bohemiae XXXIX / 2003 (500 copies)
- Pražské židovské hřbitovy / Prague Jewish Cemeteries / Prager
jüdische Friedhöfe (3,000 copies)
- Project workbook Aryeh, Your Guide to the Jewish Town I. (2,000
copies)
- Project workbook Aryeh, Your Guide to the Jewish Town II. (2,000
copies)
- Collection of lectures The Golem in Religion, Science and Art
(Czech-Spanish, 2,000 copies)
- Collection of essays The Jewish Minority in Czechoslovakia in
the 1920s (1,500 copies)
- CD Synagogue Textiles (Czech-German-French-Spanish-Italian, 1,000
copies)
- CD In Defiance of Fate. Fritz Weiss and His Arrangements (2,000
copies)
- A. Veselý. Mountain of Mountains, exhibition catalogue (Czech-English-Hebrew,
1,000 copies)
- Large leaflets for the exhibition For Dignity and Adornment (1,500
copies in Czech, 3,000 copies in English).
- For Dignity and Adornment - film about the JMP and its synagogue
textiles, directed by I. Pavlásková (50 copies in Czech, 50 copies
in English)
- Reprints:
- Jewish Prague, 2nd edition (English - 3,000 copies)
- Prague Synagogues CD, 2nd issue (Czech-German-French-Spanish-Italian,
500 copies)
- Souvenirs:
- Postcards of items in the collections (14 x 2,000 copies, 1 x
4,000 copies)
- Quartet playing cards (Czech-English, 1,000 copies)
- Postcards (8 kinds, 8,000 copies)
- Terezín children’s drawings in frames (500 copies)
- Replicas of items in the collections: Kiddush cups in two versions
(2 x 50 copies)
- Promotion:
- Exhibition leaflets: Adolf Kohn. Painter of the Prague Ghetto
(300 copies in Czech, 500 copies in English), Silenced Tones (Czech-English,
1,000 copies), Long-lost Faces (Czech-English, 1,000 copies, 500
reprints) Synagogue Silver from Bohemia and Moravia (Czech, 1,000
copies)
- Exhibition invitations: Adolf Kohn. Painter of the Prague Ghetto
(500 copies), A. Veselý. Hora hor (500 copies), Long-lost Faces
(800 copies), Silenced Tones (500 copies), JMP travelling exhibition
panels Jewish Customs and Traditions and History of the Jews in
Bohemia and Moravia (500 copies)
- Robert Guttmann Gallery leaflets: Adolf Kohn. Painter of the Prague
Ghetto – 2,400 copies in Czech, 4,800 copies in English; Long-lost
Faces (2,400 copies in Czech, 4,800 copies in English); Silenced
Tones (2,400 copies in Czech, 4,800 copies in English); A. Veselý.
Hora hor (2,00 copies in Czech, 4,000 copies in English)
- Other leaflets: The Jewish cemetery in Fibichova Street (English,
2,000 copies)
- JMP leaflets with admission tickets (100,000 copies in Italian,
50,000 copies in German, 70,000 copies in Czech, 50,000 copies in
English, 50,000 copies in Russian, 50,000 copies in Spanish, 50,000
copies in French)
- JMP Newsletter (Czech-English, 4 x 2,000 copies)
- New Year’s card (800 copies)
- Exhibition poster For Dignity and Adornment (200 copies)
- Metro poster for the exhibition Long-lost Faces (60 copies)
b) Retail outlets on JMP premises
In 2003, the JMP let retail outlets in the Maisel, Klausen and Spanish
synagogues for the sale of publications and souvenirs connected
with Jewish subject-matter (to Relax Group)
c) Sale of JMP items via the Internet
There has been a marked increase in the sale of JMP items via the
Internet. This is due to the Museum’s gradually expanding directory
of institutions and individual persons who are regularly sent information
on new JMP publications. Demand for JMP items from the Czech Republic
and abroad is now about the same.
a) Archives and documentation of Jewish Communities
(archivist V. Hamáčková)
In addition to due care of the JMP’s archive holdings and depositories,
the following activities were carried out:
- Provision of research services – 138 research visits, 20 literature
searches and replies to written queries, and approximately 130 consultations
(including by telephone)
- Continued stocktaking and digitization of the sheet music collection
- Continued stocktaking of archive books in the Jewish Community
of Prague Collection – selection of items for restoration, storage
in protective cases
- Stocktaking and cleaning of archive books, preparation for relocation
- Complete inventory and preparation of background material for
incorporation in the national Programme for Archive Records (PevA)
- Cooperation in connection with the preparation of a new archive
building project
b) Catalogue of Jewish Communities (supervisor J.
Fiedler)
Work on the preparation of an electronic encyclopaedia of Jewish
communities for the JMP website involved the following activities:
- Preparation of introductory pages and an alphabetic catalogue,
systematic work on the supplementing of encyclopaedic entries
- Preparation of literature searches and replies to queries from
researchers
- Cooperation with the State Institute for the Care of Historic
Monuments in connection with a long-term grant project for the documentation
of Jewish sites in the Czech Republic.
c) Documentation of Jewish cemeteries (V. Hamáčková,
D. Polakovič, O. Sixtová)
- Work on a standard list of Hebrew forenames and surnames for documentation
of tombstone inscriptions
- Verification and correction of data stored in the computer database
d) History of the Holocaust
- Terezín Archive collection:
Filing and inventory checks, including appropriate inventory adjustments
(inv. nos. 329b– 342j were processed – 8 box-files, comprising documents
on Terezín after liberation and the Jiří Vogel papers)
- Preparation of an inventory of the Terezín Archive collection:
fair copy of the parts that have been processed
- Acquisitions:
The Help Search for Neighbours Who Disappeared project (launched
in 2001) continued. The Holocaust department was contacted by about
300 persons, from whom it received original and facsimile archive
documents (family correspondence, farewell letters written prior
to deportation, letters from the Terezín ghetto and concentration
camps, illicit letters, personal documents), photographs (school,
family, portrait) and personal narratives about Jewish families
and communities. This involved carrying out data searches, identifying
persons and securing the production of copies of loaned documents.
The acquired materials were alphabetically sorted on the basis of
the donors’ names.
- Photography Collection:
- Basic sorting of a group of photographs relating to transports
to eastern Poland, concentration and labour camps in the Baltic
States and the Riza ghetto (assumed from the Institute of the Terezín
Initiative and Lukáš Přibyl)
- Testimonies from Holocaust Survivors project:
- Gathering, sorting and transcribing of new testimonies and ongoing
processing of information into an electronic database (20 testimonies)
- Continued sorting of selected testimonies from the archive collections
and their processing into a database of testimonies (65 testimonies)
- Processing of earlier typewritten testimonies onto a computer
program
- Gathering of documents from the pre-war and wartime lives of Holocaust
survivors, in connection with the Help Search for Neighbours Who
Disappeared project
- Ensuring the anonymity of testimonies from Holocaust survivors
in compliance with the Personal Data Protection Act.
- Copying of rare archive documents:
- Scanning:
Persecution Documents Collection
inv. no. 79 – magazine Klepy (Gossip) no. 1, 6 – 22 (140 folios)
inv. no. 79 – diary of Hana Adlerová (252 folios)
Terezín Collection
inv. no. 308a – reader Sluníčko (Sun) (51 folios)
inv. no. 326 – poetry of Erika Taubeová (50 folios)
inv. no. 326 – literary work: Ast, Blum, Böhm, Brandejsová, Brod,
Cohn- Colm, Fischer, Fischl, Flach (109 folios)
- Restoration:
Persecution Documents Collection:
inv. no. 79 - Magazine Klepy (č. 1-22)
inv. no. 64/1 – correspondence z KT Osvětim (47 folios)
Terezín Collection :
inv. no. 326 – Böhm Zdeněk (8 fol)
inv. no. 326 – Brandejsová F.D. (17 folios)
inv. no. 326 – Fleischmann Karel (100 folios)
inv. no. 326 – Salus Wolfgang (12 folios)
inv. no. 326 – Taubeová Erika (60 folios)
inv. no. 326 – Utitz Emil (1 folios)
inv. no. 327 – Salus Wolfgang (2 folios)
Gideon Klein Papers:
inv. no. 6 –21 sheet music (297 folios)
- Provision of research services: 57 visits
- Literature searches and consultation in relation to:
Shelter for the children of emigrés in Prague and the Hermanns;
Karel Švenk’s play Poslední cyklista[The Last Cyclist]; children’s
transports to England – Nicolas Winton; visits of the International
Red Cross Committee to Terezín; family camp BIIb in Auschwitz ;
transport to Baranoviči; Czech voluntary help project in Terezín
and MUDr. Raška; Crystal Night; Friedl Dicker Brandeis; definitions
of genocide, the Holocaust of Romas; the escape of Vítězslav Lederer
from Auschwitz; the question of Jewish emigration; Terezín composers;
literary work of children in Terezín.
- Routine correspondence: about 420 letters
- Pinkas Synagogue memorial to the victims of the Shoah from Bohemia
and Moravia:
- Continued gathering of background material for amendments and
additions to inscriptions
- Continued drawing up of computer lists with data on Shoah victims
(individual persons and groups) – about 200 lists (mostly in connection
with the Help Search for Neighbours Who Disappeared project).
- Preparation of background material for the building of memorials
– to Shoah victims from the Jewish communities of Kdyně, Stránčice,
Předboř, Říčany, Radošovice, Litomyšl, Hrádek u Sušice, and Úvaly.
a) Collections Department
I. Art Collection (M. Hájková)
- The art collection acquired 88 new works (17 purchases, 71 donations).
Among the acquisitions were paintings by Ludwig Blum (View of Jerusalem,
1924, oil on canvas, 41 x 60 cm), Robert Piesen (Portrait of Pavla
Mautnerová, early 1950s, oil on canvas, 87 x 92 cm), Alexander Jaksch
(Selling of Milk in the Old Town, 1889, oil on canvas, 121.5 x 87
cm) and Adolf Kohn (Market on the Old Town Square, ca. 1910, oil
on cardboard, 31 x 36.5 cm) and Stanislav Feikl (Masařská Street
at Night, pre-1906, oil on cardboard, 34.5 x 40 cm). The new acquisitions
also included drawings by Bedřich Feigl, Benjamin Levy and Emil
Orlik – the Museum’s collection of Orlik drawings was significantly
expanded by a donation of 69 original portraits of participants
of the 1918 Peace Conference of Brest-Litovsk, which Orlik had been
commissioned to make during the conference. These portraits were
donated to the Jewish Museum in Prague by the artist’s niece, Anita
Bollag of New Jersey, through the Washington-based Project Judaica
Foundation. The JMP also acquired 11 prints by David Lang, Emil
Orlik, Bedřich Feigl and Willy Nowak.
- Work continued on a long-term project for the restoration and
conservation of the art collection. In addition, work continued
on the sorting of the collection as part of preparations for the
transfer of the collection of paintings, drawings, prints and photographs
to a new depository in Smíchov. During 2003, the JMP restored 104
paintings from its collections, namely artworks by Willy Nowak,
Georg Jilovský, Adolf Wiesner, Max Oppenheimer, Alfréd Justitz,
Petr Kien, František Mořic Nágl, Frieda Salvendy, Fritz Kausek,
Egon Josef Kossuth, Eugen Spiro, Hella Guth, Gustav Boehm, Jaroslav
Herbst, B. Mordchin.
II. Paper Restoration Workshop (M. Kropáčková, J. Stankiewicz)
- Cooperation in connection with the preparation of JMP exhibitions
– Robert Guttmann Gallery: preparation of paper items for the exhibition
Mountain of Mountains. Aleš Veselý’s Desert Projects and 20 original
paper items for the exhibition Silenced Tones.
- Cooperation in connection with the preparation of other exhibitions
– conservation and restoration of 15 children’s drawings, matting
and framing, drawing up of records on the condition of individual
items for a permanent exhibition at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum,
Washington D.C.,; 5 children’s drawings for an exhibition in Saarbücken,
Germany; securing and checking of air-conditioning requirements
for the exhibition of textiles at the Imperial Stables, Prague Castle;
co-operation in connection with the installation of an exhibition
in Děčín Synagogue; matting and installation of the founding deeds
in the Jubilee (Jerusalem) Synagogue in Prague.
- 53 pastels, drawings and prints were restored for the art collection.
- Preparation of facsimiles for ZMP exhibitions: Maisel Synagogue
– 22 flat items in mat frames, 2 three-dimensional objects and treatment
of 18 replica maps with mat frames; Klausen Synagogue – 2 book facsimiles;
Holešov Synagogue – five book facsimiles and two torah scrolls with
mat frames.
- 82 paper parchment plaques, 2 manuscripts, 11 paper cut-outs and
3 Esther scrolls were restored for the JMP’s collection of manuscripts
and early printed books.
- For the JMP Library, 3 books were restored, 60 books were cleaning
after being disinfected at the National Library, and a block of
3 books was conserved before being treated by an external bookbinder.
- The production of 301 special archive cardboard cases was secured
for the JMP’s Archive.
- The Jewish youth magazine Klepy z Českých Budějovic [Gossip from
České Budějovice] was restored for the Holocaust Department (22
issues).
- 50 mould-coated books from the JMP Library were cleaned.
- 159 books from the JMP Archive were cleaned in connection with
the relocation of the archive holdings to a new space in the Smíchov
Synagogue (with the help of temporary workers). After cleaning,
the books were then placed in protective cases in the Sepekov depository.
- 150 drawings and paintings on paper were cleaned and framed as
part of preparations for the new storage of the art collection in
the Smíchov Synagogue depository.
- Regular air-conditioning checks were carried out in the JMP’s
depositories and exhibitions.
III. Textile Collection (D. Veselská)
- After four years in preparation, the JMP’s most ambitious exhibition
project to date, For Dignity and Adornment, was completed
- Work continued on a long-term project involving research into
donation inscriptions on textiles. About 500 inscriptions were transcribed
and stored.
- About 100 textile fragments were sorted and catalogued.
- Textiles from the Holocaust period were sorted – approx. 35 catalogue
items.
- Work continued on the specialized cataloguing of Jewish textiles
outside the JMP’s collection – textiles from regional museums in
Polná, Třešt and Český Dub.
- 14 research queries were dealt with.
IV. Textile Restoration Workshop (H. Votočková, V. Nauschová)
- 81 textiles were restored and conserved.
- 51 textiles were set for external restoration.
- Necessary assistance was provided in connection with preparations
for the exhibition For Dignity and Adornment (expert inspections
of all the selected items, preparation of items to be exhibited,
assistance in the installation and re-installation of the exhibition,
arrangements for transport and storage.)
- The production of copies of textile items and completely new items
was secured for permanent exhibitions and for the requirements of
Jewish communities.
- In cooperation with the collection curator, items were selected
for an exhibition of lace in 2004.
V. Metal Collection (J. Kuntoš)
- The collection of Metal works and related collections were enlarged
by the acquisition of 16 acquisitions– 9 purchases, 2 donations,
5 items from secondary shipments from Jewish communities.
- Work began on the preparation of background material for a major
catalogue of silver from the collections of the JMP, which will
be published in 2006.
- The task of determining the makers of silver items of Viennese
provenance continued.
- Specialized research into Judaic objects in other collections
with the cataloguing of objects from the Polná Museum.
- 8 research queries were dealt with.
VI. Metal Restoration Workshop (M. Jarešová, P. Veselý)
- 87 silver and brass objects from the collection were conserved
and restored for the JMP’s permanent exhibitions and loans for other
exhibitions;
- 5 large brass and iron objects from the collection were treated
by external restorers.
- A piece of historical furniture was objects were selected for
external conservation and 1 piece of historical furniture was treated
by external restorers.
VII. Documentation of the Collection Department (M. Veselská,
H. Mlsová, I. Hacmacová, H. Kopřivová)
- 22 loan agreements were prepared for exhibition purposes (3 for
foreign institutions, 19 for Czech institutions – including loans
of liturgical items to Jewish communities). 20 objects from the
collection were loaned to institutions abroad, 311 to institutions
in the Czech Republic.
- 57 loan agreements and 56 work agreements with external restorers
were prepared.
- 9 agreements were prepared for the purchase of artworks.
- 195 items (386 objects from the collection) were recorded in the
Acquisitions Register – 31 purchases, 81 donations, 3 objects transferred
from the other departments of the JMP, and 271 from stocktaking
of items in the JMP’s depositories, from the gradual sorting of
genizot finds and from secondary shipments from Jewish communities
in Bohemia and Moravia.
- The collections were enriched by donations from individual persons
and institutions: Werner Levý, Jan Grebler, Vladimír Poskočil, Eliška
Brodová, Alžběta Strnadová, Jiří Fiedler, Vladimír Říha, Marek Suchý,
Jewish Community in Prague and the Project Judaica Foundation Inc.
Washington, USA.
- A component of the ZMP’s holdings was inventoried in accordance
with the Central Recording of Collections Act. In cooperation with
the collection curator, metalwork restorers and depository administration
staff, a physical inspection of 13 groups of items comprising 4,303
inventory numbers was carried out.
- An audit of liturgical objects loaned to the Jewish Community
in Prague was completed. (M. Veselská).
- In cooperation with staff at the Collection Department, an ‘auxiliary
holding’ was established for the recording of objects that are newly
produced for exhibitions and liturgical purposes. In addition, background
material was prepared for a database for this holding. (M. Veselská).
- Background material was prepared for a CD with text and illustrated
documentation of three-dimensional objects from the Holocaust period.
((M. Veselská in cooperation with collection curators and depository
staff).
- An overview of all the secondary shipments of objects from Jewish
communities between 1994-2003. (I. Hacmacová, H. Kopřivová)
- An audit of the records agenda pertaining to donations dating
from 1994-2003 was completed. (H. Kopřivová)
- A database was prepared for all take-over records pertaining to
the objects that were assembled and sent to the Central Jewish Museum
in 1942-1945. (M. Veselská)
- A database of Judaic objects that were acquired by the Museum
from other institutions in 1950-1994 by means of transfer, exchange,
financial agreement or donation was prepared (M. Veselská)
- Lists of inventory numbers sorted by collection point were re-audited
on the basis of the above archive materials (M.Veselská, H. Mlsová,
H. Kopřivová)
- Worked continued on the scanning of the ‘German Catalogue’, a
unique source of information on items in the collections that were
assembled and sent to the museum in 1942-45. Scans of individual
pages of the catalogue will be assigned to cards of items in the
JMP’s database system, which will connect all sources of information
on the Museum’s collections. 167 volumes out of a total of 203 were
scanned by the end of 2003. At the same time the catalogue was being
scanned, it was also conserved, restored and rebound. Work also
continued on the transcription of the catalogue entries using a
text editor and on catalogue data comparison with the main numerical
card catalogue, as part of the level II stage of registration of
the ZMP’s holdings.
- Work continued on the transcription of data from the German Catalogue
into an Excel database – to date, half of all the catalogue entries
have been processed in this way. (H. Mlsová).
- Work continued on the transcription of data from acquisition registers
into a newly created Excel database – having already covered smaller
sets of objects in the collections, focus turned to drawings, paintings,
prints and artworks from the Holocaust period. (S. Hlaváčková).
- In association with JMP curators, work continued on the documentation
of Judaica in other museums in the Czceh Republic. Objects from
the collections of 5 regional museums visited in 2002 were expertly
catalogued and documentation of Judaica in the collections of the
District Museum in Náchod was carried out.
- 13 literature searches were prepared for external researchers.
(M.Veselská)
VIII. Photography Archive (F. Novák, D. Cabanová, J. Tatranský)
- Projects focused on the digitization of the JMP’s collections
and archives, photographic work connected with management of the
collections:
- Digitization of the German Catalogue continued with the scanning
of 22,500 inventory numbers.
- Digitization of the collection of synagogue textiles continued
– 680 pictures (405 inventory numbers).
- Photo documentation of the collection of Torah binders (launched
by staff at the textile restoration workshop) was completed
- Work began on the systematic digitization of items in the collections
(ritual spice boxes) – 480 documentary pictures (240 inventory numbers)
- Digitization of the collection of paintings continued with the
scanning of illustrated documents – 760 pictures.
- 700 pictures were taken for the Holocaust Department.
- Photographic work in connection with JMP publications and exhibitions:
- Preparations for print and inspection of the final form of print
for the publications Textilies from Bohemian and Moravian Synagogues
and Prague Jewish Cemeteries.
- 1,400 scans were taken as part of the digitization of earlier
issues of the periodical Judaica Bohemica.
- A new collection of items in the JMP’s collections was made.
- Photo-documentation of JMP activities:
More than 500 pictures were taken in connection with the repair
and reconstruction of Pinkas and Smíchov synagogues and the documentation
of prominent visits to the Museum, exhibitions and their openings.
- In total, almost 30,000 pictures were passed on to the JMP photo
archive or otherwise used.
- The Photography Department proposed and commissioned the development
of a database system for the registration of commissions and archiving
of photographs. The basic component to this system was completed
and brought into use.
b) Department of Jewish Studies
I. Collection of Manuscripts and Rare Printed Books (O. Sixtová)
The following activities were undertaken, in addition to ongoing
professional care of the holdings (and dealing with queries and
research requirements):
- Cleaning and restoration of selected items.
- Preparation and launch of early print cataloguing in the Aleph
library system.
- Cataloguing of manuscripts and single sheets in the JMP database.
II. Collection of written material from genizot (O. Sixtová)
- Updating of the catalogue of finds
- Documentation of tombstones in the Luže Cemetery (as part of research
into genizot from the Luže Synagogue)
a) Statistics
Library
- Attendance:
researchers: 206
- Loans
total: 1,783
short-term (to JMP staff): 380
for reading in the study: 599
Reference Centre
- Attendance
individual visitors 1,516
group visits 9
The Library was open to the public two days in the week, the Reference
Centre on weekdays.
- Acquisitions:
- books: 1,513 titles (430 for the Education and Culture Centre,
80 for the Reference Centre)
- periodicals: 6 titles (out of a total of 683) - CD-ROMs: 13 for
the Library, 39 for the Reference Centre, 10 for the Education and
Culture Centre
b) Participation in events
- Seminars
- Archives, Libraries and Museums in the Digital World, 2003. (Association
of Library and Information Professionals, Prague, 4 December)
- Libraries of the Present, 2003 (Czech Republic Library Association,
Seč u Chrudimi) Meeting of SUALEPH – Association of Aleph Users
– (SUALEPH Pilsen, 26-27 November)
- 14th ICAU meeting (ICAU, Vienna, Austria, 22–24 September)
- Seminar for Museum and Gallery Workers (Vysočiny Museum, Třebíč,
23–25 September)
- Conferences
- Inforum 2003 (School of Economics – Albertina Icome Praha, Prague)
- Raub und Restitution in Bibliotheken (Wiener Stadt- und Landesbibliothek,
Vienna, Austria, 23–24 April 2003)
- Lost Heritage of Cultural Assets: documentation, identification,
restitution and repatriation of cultural assets of Victims of the
Second World War (Center for the Documentation of Property Transfers
of the Cultural Assets of Victims of the Second World War, Brno,
20–21 November 2003)
c) Specialist visits and consultations
I. Czech Republic
- National Library, Prague, Department of Early Printed Books and
Manuscripts, Department of Periodicals
- National Library, Prague, Central Depository
- Library of the Oriental Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences,
Prague
- Prague City Library
- Library of the Museum of Decorative Arts, Prague
- Ztichlá klika, antiquarian bookshop and gallery, Prague
- Association of Librarians and IT group members, Prague
- Institute of Computer Technology, Charles University, Prague
- Institute of the Terezín Iniciative, Prague
- Higher Technical School of Information Services, Prague
- Regional Museum of Louny
- Rychov nad Kněžnou District Museum
- Ing. J. Červenákák – climatologist, Prague
- Ing. Z. Bláha – securing the production of compact shelves, Vraný
II. Abroad
- E. Grossberger – Committee for the Search of the Gora-Kalwaria
Library, New York
- Dr. G. Silagi – Monumenta Germaniae Historica, München
d) Service automation
- Aleph library system
20,859 entries were processed in the Aleph library system as at
31 December 2003 (new acquisitions in the catalogue module, earlier
publications in the catalogue module – retrospective cataloguing,
records of Hebrew publications, analytic records of selected periodicals)
- Work in the Acquisition, Cataloguing, Serials, Loans, OPAC modules
for the Internet
The Loans module was put into operation on 1 January 2003, the OPAC
module for the Internet on 1 April 2003. This enables library users
to order books and other services online.
- Internet
- Bibliographical data searches in Czech and foreign library catalogues
and in electronic databases.
- Factographic data searches for the requirements of JMP staff and
library visitors
- Participation in specialist electronic conferences (Library, KOMIG,
KATPOL, Old Prints, SUALEPH, Aleph-l)
e) Digitization of the Library holdings
- In association with the Photography Department, digital copies
were made of selected pages from 8 printed books for the production
of facsimiles for permanent exhibitions of the JMP in the Klausen,
Třebíč and Holešov synagogues.
g) Work on the Library holdings
- On 8 October 2003, the retrospective physical inspection of the
Library holdings for the purpose of determining original ownership
was completed. Commencing on 2 May 2001, the findings were checked
and processed in a database. In total, over 80,000 books and periodicals
were checked and almost 34,000 records were stored in an electronic
database.
- Checks were carried out on the call-number series of the Library’s
collections (70.000-71.999), the JMP reference library (ED call-number
series), the reference library of the Holocaust Department (DS call-number
series), the reference library of the Reference Centre (RF call-number
series), the bibliographic reference library, and the reference
libraries of individual staff members. In addition, dissertations
were reviewed.
- 187 books were registered in the Central Register of Collections.
- A register was made of periodicals that are stored in the depository
in Jáchymova Street.
- Checks on the contents of the holdings were carried out on an
ongoing basis and selected publications were discarded.
- Micro-biological checks and decontaminations were carried out
on 117 volumes.
- 24 volumes were restored in cooperation with the restoration workshop.
- 185 protective cases for restored and treated volumes were made
- 54 volumes were repaired or restored externally.
- New bindings were made for 32 volumes
- A micro-biological investigation was carried out in the depositories
in the JMP office building and in the periodical depository in Jáchymova
Street.
a) General hardware and software backup for PC users
- 10 new computers, including operating systems and the same number
of MS Office XP programs were purchased. There are currently 74
computers in use.
- The backup power source was extended.
- A 1TB disk field was purchased and the use of disk space for data
storage was facilitated for users.
b) Local network extension
The local computer network was extended and now connects 72 computers.
c) Email and Internet
All employees connected to the local computer network have access
to electronic mail and the Internet. Communication software gives
users access to their mail boxes via the Internet. An anti-virus
program was installed on the electronic mail server. In addition,
access rights were set on the Internet server, in order, as far
as possible, to prevent Internet abuse.
d) Securing of anti-virus checks
The anti-virus database and anti-virus program were continually
updated.
e) Telephone connections
A contract was signed with GlobalTel a.s., with a view to securing
cheaper telephone connections (long-distance, international and
mobile).
- A contract was concluded with with Havel Voice a.s. for cheaper
long-distance, international and mobile connections.
- The telephone exchange was attached to an extended back-up source.
f) ALEPH library system
A new server for ALEPH 500 was purchased and attached to the internal
network.
In 2003 the JMP’s property maintenance and building activities
(secured by M. Lička and R. Šťastný) were considerably influenced
by the need to restore damage caused by the floods of August 2002.
Special attention continued to be focused on stepping up security
measures for visitors. All the JMP’s properties were fitted with
new luminescent security signs which facilitate orientation in case
of emergency. With the same goal in mind, emergency lighting was
installed in the publicly accessible parts of the buildings.
At the end of the year a security and fire safety audit was launched
in all workplaces of the Museum. A JMP crisis staff was set up as
early as January 2003 and evacuation teams for individual buildings
were appointed in case of danger to life, health or property on
the premises of the JMP. The necessary documentation was drawn up
for the activities of this staff and evacuation teams and facilities
were installed in each building to facilitate the immediate commencement
of rescue work, particularly in case of flooding.
a) Repairs and reconstruction
I. Office complex
The main task was to repair the technical facilities and building
elements in the basement that were completely destroyed by flooding
and to return the flood-damaged areas to their original use. Work
involved the following activities:
- Drying, moderate heating and anti-fungal measures
- Fitting and putting into operation of new gas boilers for central
heating and preparation of hot water, including new paintwork, pipes
insulation and new connections
- Putting into operation of a measurement and control system for
the building’s technical facilities
- Repair and putting into operation of new elevators
- Repair of the cooling system, including the supply of a new cooling
source
- Supply and fitting of new doors in all basement rooms
- New sanitation plaster, paint and ceramic cladding
- New plasterboard wall and partition structures
- Repair and inspection of electric installations
- Repair of damaged floors and coating of floor structures
- Repair of inspection sewage shafts, including the addition of
closable backflow valves for connections
- Rehabilitation of perimeter walls, including back-ventilation
and drainage in the outside pavements, thereby reducing underground
dampness and directing water into the sewage and waste water system.
- Installation of special emergency waterproof lighting in the basement
areas
- Repair and supplementing of damaged furniture and shelves in the
basment areas
- Modernization of the SMART elevator – installation of safety facilities
in cases of breakdowns
- Paintwork repairs in the lobby and throughout the first floor,
including the Robert Guttmann Gallery and reception area, as well
as the relaxation centre, guest rooms and staircase of building
no. 153.
The textile restoration workshops were provided with cooling air-conditioning
to meet all operational requirements.
II. Maisel Synagogue
- Repair of electric continuous-flow water heaters and optimizing
of electric power consumption.
- New sanitation plaster in the basement and new electric installations.
- Alterations to the metal railings leading to the depository, to
facilitate easier handling of objects in the collections.
- Alterations to the facilities for draining off condensate from
the dehumidifiers in the depositories
- Installation of a wooden extendable staircase leading to the depository
- Complete cleaning of roof and loft areas
- Installation of emergency accumulation lighting on the escape
routes from the depository and the main exhibition
- Inspection and replacement of Art-sorb panels in the ‘vitrine
safe’
III. Spanish Synagogue
- Repair of the base of seven vitrines
- Replacement of the damaged parts of the coir carpet in the gallery
- Complete repair and putting into operation of the exchanger station,
including measurement and control system for the building’s technical
facilities
- Drying out of the basement, repair of plasterwork (including sanitation
plaster) and paintwork in the basement on the ground floor
- Installation of emergency accumulation lighting on the escape
route from the main exhibitions
IV. Klausen Synagogue
- Completion of repairs of flood-damaged basements areas (sanitation
plaster, new floor covering, cloakroom door)
- Repair of plaster on the ground floor, together with painting
- Installation of new, more energy efficient lighting in the Reservation
Centre of the JMP
- Replacement of central heating radiators on the ground floor,
treatment of heating measurement and control facilities in the Reservation
Centre.
- Installation of emergency accumulation lighting on the escape
route from the main exhibitions
V. Pinkas Synagogue
Of all the listed Jewish buildings, the Pinkas Synagogue suffered
the most damage in the flood of August 2002. Work on the repair
of the synagogue was launched immediately and continued until September
2003. Due to the exceptional cultural and historical value of the
building, all repairs were subject to regular evaluation by a team
of leading external experts. The aim was to restore the damage caused
by the flood and, if possible, to remove any unsuitable changes
that had been made in previous reconstructions and, using historical
documentation, to bring the building back to its original architectural
form. The concept studies and subsequent phases of the project were
consulted in detail with employees of the National Heritage Institute
and arrangements were made for an archaeological investigation in
the building. The repair of the Pinkas Synagogue was undertaken
by the tender winner KOPEX s.r.o. and, following consultation with
National Heritage Institute staff, was put forward for the European
Union Prize for Cultural Heritage – Europa Nostra Awards 2003.
The following activities were carried out:
- Structural reinforcement by fitting and pre-stressing steel rods
(lengthwise and crosswise).
- Lowering of the floor in the nave and lobby by 25 cm to the original
level, thereby restoring the original spatial proportions, particularly
in relation to the central elements – the bimah and ark
- Installation of new underfloor heating, including a measurement
and control centre to assess external and internal conditions and
to regulate the newly installed ventilation system in the building
- Laying of a new floor. In the nave and lobby use was made of roughly
worked trachyte stone tiles. The flooring in the women’s section
and on the first floor are of burnt cotto arrotato tiles. In terms
of shape and material, the new wear layers were based on fragments
of the original tiles which were found during the archaeological
investigation.
- Replacement of the original staircase by massive stone steps of
trachyte with stoneware details
- Replacement of the cladding of the gallery railings by massive
trachyte slabs
- Installation of a Star of David sculpture on the western façade
of the synagogue (on the basis of a preserved archive photograph)
- Replacement of metalwork elements (railings, back-ventilation)
by hand-wrought products in keeping with the character of the building
- Installation of a new wall lighting system and treatment of other
lighting fittings.
- Improvements to the acoustic system
- New design for the entrance area in the courtyard, including the
installation of a new turnstile
- Installation of a new signage panel on the ground floor and a
sponsors’ panel in the courtyard.
VI. Ceremonial Hall
- Repair of damaged basement areas (cladding, plaster, urinals)
- Repair of branch drain line and connection of drain pipes to sewage
and water pipes.
- Installation of emergency accumulation lighting
- Special cleaning of brass chandeliers, walls, paintwork and other
elements.
VII. Smíchov Synagogue
Work continued on the overall repair and reconstruction of the synagogue,
which was launched in 2002. After its completion, the synagogue
will house a depository of paintings and the JMP archive with a
necessary office and operational base.
A steel structure was built in the synagogue and the vast majority
of restoration work was completed in 2003. In addition, the fabric
of the extension was completed. The connected buildings were linked
to the utilities networks and a gas boiler, central heating, ventilation
equipment and elevators were installed. All building, fitting and
restoration work is set for completion in March 2004.
VIII. Jewish Museum Café
The café which is situated on the ground floor and in the basement
of the JMP office complex had to be closed as a result of last year’s
floods. After undergoing essential repairs, it reopened in March
2003, with a new subtenant, NOSTRUM s.r.o. Outside seating was provided
in the summer months.
IX. Robert Guttmann Gallery
The JMP’s art gallery, which is situated on the ground floor of
the JMP office complex, was able to reopen after its own technical
facilities had been repaired and put into operation. During the
summer season, checks were carried out on the efficiency of the
Nickel overhead heating and cooling system. The repairs that were
carried out improved the microclimatic conditions in the gallery
and made for a more effective use of the exhibition space.
X. Jáchymova 3, Prague 1
- Repair of the compact sliding shelves located in the basement
which were damaged by the floods in 2002.
- Repair of the skylight windows in the loft depository of the library
XI. Old Jewish Cemetery
- Repair of the load-bearing structures of the spacing channels
that run underground around the Pinkas Synagogue.
- Repair of damaged external rendering, including the facades of
buildings along which runs the tour route of the Old Jewish Cemetery.
- Drawing up of a detailed evaluation of the state of the trees,
with particular attention to visitor safety, and subsequent pruning.
XII. Jewish Cemetery in Fibichova Street, Prague
- Repair of the new cemetery wall that was damaged by a falling
tree.
- Installation of grating elements in the fence.
XIII. Brandýs nad Labem Synagogue
- Digital survey of the building and surroundings as background
material for future project work on repairs and reconstruction.
- Roof repair
- Temporary fencing of the courtyard
XIV. Golčův Jeníkov Synagogue
- Overhaul and repair of electric installations
b) Maintenance
- The investment and property management departments ensured the
operating conditions for the due running of all fourteen buildings
used by the JMP, including the necessary technical facilities (transformer
station, elevators, air-conditioning equipment, cooling plant, measurement
and control of the building’s technical facilities, humidifiers
and dehumidifiers, gas boilers, pressure vessels, platforms for
disabled access, relaxation centre equipment).
- Necessary repairs to walls, pipes, plumbing installations and
lock fittings; paintwork and coats.
- Regular maintenance of electric installations, cleaning and overhaul
of eaves and inlets
- Securing of the temporary use of 44 dehumidifiers during restoration
of flood damage
b) Technical supervision of repairs and reconstructions
(V. Hamáčková)
- Old Jewish Cemetery – restoration of 53 tombstones
- Cemetery in Fibichova Street – restoration of 80 tombstones
c) Integrated security system (H. Pojarová)
- Installation of an electric security system and an electric fire-safety
system in the newly acquired rooms of the JMP’s Education and Culture
Centre
- Installation of an electric security system in the inner blocks
of the Maisel and Spanish synagogues
- Installation of a back-up power source in the JMP office complex
in case of longer power cuts
- Installation of an acoustic warning signal in case of immediate
danger in the JMP office complex
- Overhaul of the electric fire-safety system in the JMP’s buildings
in and outside Prague
- Reinstallation of an electric security system and an electric
fire-safety system, installation of an electronic control system
for entry to the flooded basement areas of the JMP buildings after
completion of building work
- Installation of an electric fire-safety system in the Pinkas Synagogue
loft and installation of an electric security system for the windows
and doors of the Pinkas Synagogue
- Installation of new cameras in the Klausen Synagogue and the Old
Jewish Cemetery
- On the basis of a security project drawn up in cooperation with
the Jewish Community in Prague, Prague City Hall and the Czech Ministry
of the Interior, concrete barriers were installed in front of the
JMP’s office buildings, in front of the Spanish Synagogue and int
he streets U Staré školy and Jáchymova.
January
- Senator Tom Lantos, USA
February
- Film director Roman Polanski
April
- Israeli writer Amos Oz
- Yehiel Leket, Chairman of Keren Kayemeth Leisrael (Jewish
National Fund), Israel
June
- Jorge Telerman, Culture Secretary to the Municipal Assembly of
Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Peter A.Rafaeli, Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic in Philadelphia,
USA
- Holocaust historian Deborah Lipstadt, USA
- Zeev Kaftori, Israeli diplomat, Budapest
- Hans Nieroda, deputy of the Bavarian Government, Germany
July
- Douglas Greenberg, President of the Survivors of the Shoah Foundation,
USA
September
- Delegation of the Israeli Kneset led by the Speaker of the Senate,
Reuven Rivlin
October
- The wives of ambassadors to the Czech Republic
November
- The Dutch Ambassador to the Czech Republic, Ida L.van Veldhuizen-Rothenbücher
December
- Tova Pinto, Director of the Jewish Agency for Israel’s delegation
for Central and Eastern Europe
a) From abroad
- Foundations and institutions:
The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation (USA)
The American Friends of the Czech Republic (USA)
The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (USA)
The World Monuments Fund (USA)
The Javne Fund (USA)
The American Jewish Comittee (USA)
Tsjechisch Centrum Den Haag (Holland)
Gesellschaft für Christlich-Jüdische Zusammenarbeit (Germany)
Nes Ammim (Germany)
The Strategic Hotel Capital (USA)
The Anne Frank House (Holland)
Cultural Link (Argentina)
- Individual persons:
Berry Jill K. (USA)
Bleistein Norman (Germany)
Fielden Evelyn (USA)
Friedman H. (USA)
Gregory H. (UK)
Hems V. (UK)
Herzl G. (USA)
King Eric (USA)
Müller E.R. (USA)
Munk Vladimír (USA)
Naftali Zvi Frankel (USA)
Passin Gregg H. (UK)
Raport E. (Canada)
Siegel Ned L. (USA)
Theimer Peter (Canada)
Zimer J. (Canada)
b) from the Czech Republic
- Foundations and institutions:
The Africa Israel Investment Group – Evropa Sen
Aura Lloyd s.r.o.
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung
Goethe Institut Prague
The Hotel Hilton Prague, Tourinvest
Kenvelo CZ, s.r.o.
Prague City Hall
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic
The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport
The Prague 1 Local Authority
The Jewish Museum in Prague Foundation
The Holocaust Victims Foundation
The Parliament of the Czech Republic
Rudolf Jelínek, a.s..
The Senate of the Czech Republic
Ukrývané dítě (Hidden Child) Foundation
The Embassy of the Argentine Republic
The Jewish Community in Prague
- Individual persons:
Ciencala Libor
Hubáčková Hana
Kubeša Milan
Páral Ivo
The JMP provided funds to the following groups for humanitarian
purposes, for preservation of the Jewish cultural heritage and for
other activities connected with Jewish themes and with the struggle
against racism and anti-Semitism:
The Czech Association in Slovakia and the regional organization
of Košice
The Czech League of Freedom Fighters
The Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic
GAUDIA, a Prague civic association against cancer
The Jewish Community in Prague’s Lauder Elementary School Gur Arye
The MAMMA Foundation, Prague
The Civic Association of the Visually Impaired, Prague
The ZORA physical training association, Prague, for visually impaired
sportspeople
The Jewish Community in Prague
Prague, 15 January 2004 Leo Pavlát
Director of the Jewish Museum in Prague
| BALANCE SHEET |
| (in thousands of
k ) |
| |
|
| As of
31. Dec. 2002 |
As of 31. Dec. 2003 |
| PERMANENT ASSETS |
265
497 |
138
134 |
| Intangible
fixed assets |
729 |
786 |
| Tangible fixed assets |
264 768 |
137 348 |
| Financial investments |
0 |
0 |
| CURRENT ASSETS
|
135
797 |
147
291 |
| Inventories |
4 474 |
4 980 |
| Receivables |
5 270 |
12 919 |
| Financial assets |
112 656 |
125 290 |
| OTHER ASSETS |
13 397 |
4 102 |
| TOTAL ASSETS |
401
294 |
285
425 |
| |
|
|
| OWN SOURCES |
386
233 |
263
596 |
| Funds |
351 110 |
233 424 |
| Economic
results in current accounting period |
35 123 |
30 172 |
| EXTERNAL RESOURCES |
15
061 |
21
829 |
| Short-term commitments |
14 930 |
21 594 |
| Provisiones |
30 000 |
0 |
| OTHER LIABILITIES |
131 |
235 |
| TOTAL ASSETS
|
401
294 |
285
425 |
|
PROFIT
AND LOSS STATEMENT |
|
(in thousands
of k ) |
| |
| |
As of 31. Dec. 2002 |
As of 31. Dec. 2003 |
| REVENUES |
189 589 |
172 812 |
| Sales of goods and services |
6 470 |
8 751 |
| Sales of entrance fee |
95 206 |
120 792 |
| Subsidies |
150 |
0 |
| Recognition of provisions |
30 000 |
0 |
| Other revenues |
57 763 |
43 269 |
| OPERATING COSTS |
139 210 |
129 667 |
| Expenditures on realized sales |
54 768 |
64 796 |
| Personnel costs |
37 565 |
38 953 |
| Depreciation |
15 687 |
12 170 |
| Other operating costs and provisiones |
31 190 |
13 748 |
| INCOME TAX |
15 256 |
12 973 |
| ECONOMIC RESULT |
35 123 |
30 172 |
| Jewish museum in Prague
employee structure |
| |
In 2003, the Jewish museum in Prague
had an average of 134 employees
(part-time workers consolidated). |
| |
| Museum management |
3 |
| Employed experts |
62 |
| Building protection |
57 |
| Support and other activities |
12 |
|
Repairs and reconstructions of buildings
(in thousands of k ) |
| Building |
1995-2002 |
2003 |
| Spanish synagogue |
33 360 |
73 |
| Administration and Research
Centre |
2 956 |
0 |
| Maisel synagogue |
17 037 |
0 |
| Pinkas synagogue |
4 592 |
5 579 |
| Ceremonial hall |
1 812 |
0 |
| Klausen synagogue |
5 780 |
0 |
| Depository of textiles |
2 157 |
45 |
| New Administration and
Research Centre |
87 723 |
5 562 |
| Education and Culture
Centre |
614 |
0 |
| Smíchov synagogue |
13 256 |
644 |
| Synagogue Brandýs |
696 |
16 |
| Jewish Cemetery - Fibichova
St. Prague 3 |
9 201 |
385 |
| Old Jewish cemetery |
6 164 |
321 |
| Total |
185
348 |
12
625 |
