Opening of the Usov Synagogue

On Sunday June 8 the newly restored synagogue in Usov was opened for public. The Usov synagogue was built in 1784 and was used for religious purposes until 1938. During the Kristallnacht Nazis burnt down its furnishings and also library and archives. Most members of the Jewish community escaped from Usov in late 1930s. Those who stayed perished in the Holocaust. After WWII the Jewish community was not renewed and the synagogue was sold to the Bohemian Brethren Evangelical Church, which used it as a prayer room. In 1993 Nina Hofmann from England bought back the building and transferred it to the Jewish community. Mrs. Hofmann’s Jewish ancestors used to live in Usov in 18th and 19th century. Renovation of the synagogue including the restoration of the original paintings and liturgical inscriptions on the wall took almost 15 years. In 2007 the Federation of Jewish Communities asked members of the Foundation Respect and Tolerance to prepare and operate the permanent museum in the Usov synagogue. The synagogue and museum display, which includes also Respect and Tolerance library and archives was reopened in June 2008 - 70 years after it was devastated during the Kristallnacht in 1938. Visitors can also view the Jewish cemetery which was founded in 17th century not far from synagogue.

Opening was attended by several representatives of political and cultural life including the member of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Karel Korytar, Mayors of the towns Usov and Lostice, manager of Jewish historical sites in Moravia Jaroslav Klenovsky, leaders of the Jewish Community in Olomouc, Holocaust survivors, Jewish veterans and others.

Synagogue is now open for public daily except Mondays. During the school year it will be also used for educational school programs.

For guided tours and educational programs please call: +420 583 455 912, +420 775 264 206

Concert in the Usov Synagogue

On Saturday June 14 there was the concert in the Usov synagogue. This first large concert in the newly renovated synagogue was organized as the joint performance of the adult choir Carmen, choir Primavera and the renown Prerov Music School Band. Earlier in the afternoon all singers and musicians performed in the nearby historical church in Dubicko. Then they came to present their talents to the synagogue. Audience was touched by beautiful music and also admired excellent acoustics of the historical Usov synagogue.

News:

Deník Vyšehorky

01.01.2009: Summary of Activities 2008

01.01.2009: HOURS OF DEVOTION

September 2008: September 2008

July 2008 July 2008

June 2008: Theatre performance CHAHA in the Lostice synagogue

June 2008: Opening of the Usov Synagogue

May 2008: Educational program, Klopina Elementary School

During 2007 the Foundation Respect and Tolerance created a new website and put together education programs on DVD and CD titled „Remembering Jewish Families from Lostice, Mohelnice and Usov”. Programs were produced tanks to the financial assistance from the Foundation for Holocaust Victims in Prague and are available to students free of charge.

31.12.2007: PF 2008

31.12.2007: Summary of activities 2007 - file size 3MB

26.06.2007: Warning anniversary

16.06.2007: Berta Horova

10.05.2007: Respect and Tolerance gives books about the Holocaust to schools

05.05.2007: Project - Books for the University

01.05.2007: Fanny Neuda and Dinah Berland - New edition of a book which originated in Lostice in 19th century

19.04.2007: Lostice synagogue

16.04.2007: March of the Living

23.03.2007: Exhibition in London

26.01.2007: Terry Haass Prize 2007

20.01.2007: Artur Langer

01.05.2006: Bar mitzvah

Summary of activities:

9.12.2006: There is RaT summary of activities and programs 2006 in PDF format, here