Reunion Trip to Bardejov is being planned to coincide with the 70th Anniversary of the Deportation of Bardejov’s Jews
Following the successful mission trip to Bardejov by survivors and descendants in 2008, the Bardejov Jewish Preservation Committee is planning a Memorial and Witness Trip to Bardejov on May 15, 2012.  We hope to gather families of those connected to Bardejov’s Jewish past and interested people from around the globe on the historic 70th anniversary of the tragic deportation of Bardejov’s Jews.

Click here for more information about the May 15, 2012 Memorial and Witness trip to Bardejov

Bardejov Jewish Preservation Committee delegation meets with the Mayor of Bardejov and the Jewish Suburbia Restoration team on November 8, 2010
Emil Fish represented both the United States Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad and the Bardejov Jewish Preservation Committee on Monday, November 8, 2010 in Bardejov at a meeting with the Mayor of Bardejov Boris Hanuscak, additional Bardejov city officials, representatives from UZZNO, the Central Union of Jewish Religious Communities in the Slovak Republic, and representatives of the restoration architecture team from the Monuments Board of Slovakia. Also attending this historic meeting were Israeli preservation architect and ICOMOS expert Giora Solar, local Bardejov historians and activists Peter and Pavol Hudak, and five additional members of the Bardejov Jewish Preservation Committee from the United States. The meeting focused on the future of the Jewish Suburbia and land for a Holocaust memorial for the Bardejov region’s victims of the Holocaust.

The Mayor pledged the city would provide land next to the Jewish Suburbia for a Holocaust monument suggested by Chairman Warren Miller of the United States Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad. The future of the Jewish Suburbia was discussed in terms of the use of a restored complex, the transfer of responsibility for the complex for 20 years to the City of Bardejov from the Central Union of Jewish Religious Communities in the Slovak Republic to allow the city to apply for restoration grants, and the need to get the current hardware store out of the complex in order to show respect for the collection of religious buildings.

Click here to see photos from the November 8, 2010 meeting with the Mayor of Bardejov and tour of the restoration work in the Old Synagogue

The Jewish Suburbia/ Old Synagogue, Mikvah, Beit Midrash

Restoration of the Old Synagogue
One of the most exciting new developments in Bardejov is the work of the restoration team of architects and restorers under the supervision of the Monument Board of the Slovak Republic, Presov Region.  Extensive structural repairs are underway in the Old Synagogue.  Brickwork around the windows is being repaired on the interior and exterior of the building. Scaffolding has arisen in the sanctuary that has now been emptied of all merchandise from the hardware and plumbing supply store that has been on the site of the Jewish Suburbia for over 30 years. Careful analysis of the interior decorative painting on the ceilings and walls has been done. A plan to deal with water is being developed to stop the moisture issues causing structural problems to the building and site.

See a video from Slovak television that shows the Old Synagogue restoration work in progress from the summer of 2010.

PDF translation of the video clip courtesy of Peter Hudak of Bardejov.

Mikvah changes
The historic mikvah and beit hamidrash buildings are still under the control of the lessee, a hardware and plumbing supply business. The lease holder has made extensive changes to the mikvah building on the exterior and interior.  The roof has been replaced and the building has been re-plastered and re-painted inside and out.  A hardware store and office occupy the entire mikvah building.

Beit Hamidrash
The beit hamidrash is still, primarily, in an un-restored condition.  Screens, pipes, chains and other merchandise fill the building and also the yard of the Jewish Suburbia

The Jewish Suburbia has been added to the Slovak Jewish Heritage Route

In 2010, at a special ceremony arranged by local historians Peter and Pavol Hudak, a new plaque was unveiled on the side of the mikvah building in the Jewish Suburbia.  In Slovak and English, the sign explains the history and significance of the Bardejov Jewish Suburbia. The Jewish Suburbia is the 25th addition on the listing of Jewish monuments in Slovakia. The Slovak Jewish Heritage Route is an activity of Synagoga Slovaca Jewish Heritage Center in Bratislava.

Click here to see the new plaque

The Jewish Cemetery

A new wrought iron fence has been erected to replace the old cement and corrugated metal fence.  The new fence has decorative Star of David motifs on each section. The fence completely surrounds the cemetery.

Click here to see before and after photos of the cemetery fence.

Public History Programs about Bardejov’s Jewish past

Bardejov residents and local historians, father and son Pavol and Peter Hudak have arranged some fascinating public history programs about Bardejov’s Jewish history.  Some have been part of Bardejov’s celebration of the European Day of Jewish History in 2009 and 2010.  Others have included a commemoration of the deportations from Bardejov and the heroic actions of Bardejov Jewish pre-war leader Raphael Lowy.  The Hudaks have also been active in presenting Jewish history to local elementary and secondary students.

Click here to see photos of past public history presentations by Peter and Pavol Hudak

Emil Fish, Founder of the Bardejov Jewish Preservation Committee, was appointed to the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad

In January of 2010, Emil Fish was appointed to a United States Commission that protects heritage sites outside the United States connected to U.S. citizens who formerly lived abroad.  This includes oversight of many Holocaust-related sites in Europe. As part of his service to the commission Mr. Fish is spearheading a new Holocaust monument near the Jewish Suburbia.

Click here for a photo of Mr. Fish

A full-time Executive Director was hired in July, 2010 to support the work of the Bardejov Jewish Preservation Committee

Diane Siegel joined the Bardejov Jewish Preservation Committee in July, 2010. Diane comes to us from the museum and non-profit world where she has served as a museum educator, curator, program and volunteer manager for over 12 years. She has had extensive experience researching family history for exhibitions at the Pasadena Museum of History. She has also been an independent educational consultant and writer for clients that include the Los Angeles Public Library, the Huntington Museum, the Skirball Cultural Center, the National Park Service, Disney’s educational websites, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. As senior educator at the Museum of Television & Radio in Beverly Hills she led classes that included Images of Jewish Life on Television and The Holocaust on Television. She has masters and bachelors degrees from Syracuse University.


Bardejov Jewish Preservation Committee
905 S. Fair Oaks Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91105
dsiegel@bardejov.org
626.773.8814
www.bardejov.org

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