Stacy Grove
Reflections on Hermauv-Mestec
It was a memorable day for each of us as we celebrated with the Torah scroll in its home synagogue. From the moment we entered the synagogue with about 30 local townspeople patiently waiting for our arrival, there was a special feeling of anticipation. This was the first time since 1939 that a worship service was being held within the walls of this synagogue! This was the first time since 1939 thatTorah would be read here and prayers lifted with praise and thanksgiving!
For the moment let’s just offer some of the historical information received after the service as we enjoyed a delightful lunch at the Ambiente restaurant. Vladislav(Vladia) Donat, Eliska’s husband, served as our translator interpreter for thetownspeople during our worship service at this beautiful synagogue. Vladia was with Eliska at Southeastern Seminary and at Temple Beth Or when our link in this storybegan. Vladia’s father is a Baptist minister in the Czech Republic, which is whyhe enrolled at Southeastern. Both he and Eliska now teach other students biblestudies, including Hebrew , at a community college in a nearby town. Vladia was bombarded with questions and served as translator for some of us eating at histable with two women who are the ’caretakers’ of the synagogue.
The restaurant where we enjoyed a delicious meal of seasoned chicken, potatopancakes, and potato balls, is owned by Ladislav Mares. He was not there or we would have offered our gratitude to him for he was the person who managed the recent restoration efforts of the synagogue. He found just the right contractorsto provide the materials that would reconstruct the inside of this building withthe accurate detail. And what a superb job was done by him and the contractors!
Vladie told a few of us the following story.... This quaint town of 4,500 people has a long history of with its Jewish community,who were living there as early as 1509, engaged in commerce and money-lending. TheJewish community proper dates from 1591. The Jews were confined to a ghetto underthe protectorate of the overlords of the city. This beautiful synogogue was originally built as a small building in Baroque stylein 1760. When the congregation grew to be 450-500 people the town gave space forthe synagogue to enlarge and in 1870 it was rebuilt in Neo-Romanesque style.
In 1939, there was a law introduced that prohibited Jews to worship. There is a record of a rabbi performing a burial service in this community in 1940. During the war the synagogue was used as a medical storage facility. In December 1942,the Jews from this communitz were taken to Terezin. Sitting with us at the table was Vladia’s surrogate parents, a couple from Canadawho happened to be visiting with him and Eliska while we are here. George is a Baptist minister and friend of Vladia’s father. They actually came to Wake ForestSoutheastern Seminary when Vladia and Eliska graduated a few years ago, about the time when their story first began with Reb Raachel.
Also at our table were the two women who are the caretakers of the synagogue and community center, which currently exhibits art. Dana is from a Lutheran church of 25 people. She grew up within the Jewish community because her father bought a house from a Jewish family. Her family lived on one floor while the Jewish familylived on the other floor of the home until they were taken away in 1942. Dana maintained contact with the family’s grandson after the war. He moved back to theCzech Republic from Auschwitz at age 14.
Maria told us she takes turns with Dana, showing the synagogue. She is Catholic,of which there are about 100 in town. Her priest was at the synagogue for ourservice along with a protestant minister. Maria said 1500 people visited the synagogue this past year. When the synagogue was restored in 2001, there was a dedication ceremony with a rabbi from Prague and the other religious people from Hermanuv Mestec. The synagogue is also used for concerts and book readings. This seems to be a common use of religious churches and synagogues in this country. Weare told that Czech Republic is the most agnostic /atheist country of the EasternEuropean countries. Islam is growing within western Europe countries of Belgium, France, and Germany, but not in the Eastern European countries.
After lunch we spent time at the Jewish cemetary in the town. It is one of the oldest cemetaries in this country. We then returned to the synagogue to spend sometime inside the sanctuary and viewing the art exhibit in the community center. The priest who was at the service invited us to visit his church so we stopped there before leaving town.
There are many different lenses through which to view our day in the history of this beautifully restored synagogue, which serves as testimony to the Jewish community that lived in this town. I’m sure you will hear stories as each of us continues to process and share our experiences of that day.
Reflections on Hermauv-Mestec
It was a memorable day for each of us as we celebrated with the Torah scroll in its home synagogue. From the moment we entered the synagogue with about 30 local townspeople patiently waiting for our arrival, there was a special feeling of anticipation. This was the first time since 1939 that a worship service was being held within the walls of this synagogue! This was the first time since 1939 thatTorah would be read here and prayers lifted with praise and thanksgiving!
For the moment let’s just offer some of the historical information received after the service as we enjoyed a delightful lunch at the Ambiente restaurant. Vladislav(Vladia) Donat, Eliska’s husband, served as our translator interpreter for thetownspeople during our worship service at this beautiful synagogue. Vladia was with Eliska at Southeastern Seminary and at Temple Beth Or when our link in this storybegan. Vladia’s father is a Baptist minister in the Czech Republic, which is whyhe enrolled at Southeastern. Both he and Eliska now teach other students biblestudies, including Hebrew , at a community college in a nearby town. Vladia was bombarded with questions and served as translator for some of us eating at histable with two women who are the ’caretakers’ of the synagogue.
The restaurant where we enjoyed a delicious meal of seasoned chicken, potatopancakes, and potato balls, is owned by Ladislav Mares. He was not there or we would have offered our gratitude to him for he was the person who managed the recent restoration efforts of the synagogue. He found just the right contractorsto provide the materials that would reconstruct the inside of this building withthe accurate detail. And what a superb job was done by him and the contractors!
Vladie told a few of us the following story.... This quaint town of 4,500 people has a long history of with its Jewish community,who were living there as early as 1509, engaged in commerce and money-lending. TheJewish community proper dates from 1591. The Jews were confined to a ghetto underthe protectorate of the overlords of the city. This beautiful synogogue was originally built as a small building in Baroque stylein 1760. When the congregation grew to be 450-500 people the town gave space forthe synagogue to enlarge and in 1870 it was rebuilt in Neo-Romanesque style.
In 1939, there was a law introduced that prohibited Jews to worship. There is a record of a rabbi performing a burial service in this community in 1940. During the war the synagogue was used as a medical storage facility. In December 1942,the Jews from this communitz were taken to Terezin. Sitting with us at the table was Vladia’s surrogate parents, a couple from Canadawho happened to be visiting with him and Eliska while we are here. George is a Baptist minister and friend of Vladia’s father. They actually came to Wake ForestSoutheastern Seminary when Vladia and Eliska graduated a few years ago, about the time when their story first began with Reb Raachel.
Also at our table were the two women who are the caretakers of the synagogue and community center, which currently exhibits art. Dana is from a Lutheran church of 25 people. She grew up within the Jewish community because her father bought a house from a Jewish family. Her family lived on one floor while the Jewish familylived on the other floor of the home until they were taken away in 1942. Dana maintained contact with the family’s grandson after the war. He moved back to theCzech Republic from Auschwitz at age 14.
Maria told us she takes turns with Dana, showing the synagogue. She is Catholic,of which there are about 100 in town. Her priest was at the synagogue for ourservice along with a protestant minister. Maria said 1500 people visited the synagogue this past year. When the synagogue was restored in 2001, there was a dedication ceremony with a rabbi from Prague and the other religious people from Hermanuv Mestec. The synagogue is also used for concerts and book readings. This seems to be a common use of religious churches and synagogues in this country. Weare told that Czech Republic is the most agnostic /atheist country of the EasternEuropean countries. Islam is growing within western Europe countries of Belgium, France, and Germany, but not in the Eastern European countries.
After lunch we spent time at the Jewish cemetary in the town. It is one of the oldest cemetaries in this country. We then returned to the synagogue to spend sometime inside the sanctuary and viewing the art exhibit in the community center. The priest who was at the service invited us to visit his church so we stopped there before leaving town.
There are many different lenses through which to view our day in the history of this beautifully restored synagogue, which serves as testimony to the Jewish community that lived in this town. I’m sure you will hear stories as each of us continues to process and share our experiences of that day.
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