The Bardejov Jewish Preservation Committee continues to make progress toward the revival of Jewish Heritage in the Suburbium and beyond. Just this month we launched our educational initiative with multiple school groups in Bardejov. The program includes videos, lesson plans, and worksheets that will introduce students to the long history of Anti-Judaism and Antisemitism. These lessons contextualize the Holocaust in a way that allows for a greater understanding of the pernicious persistence of ignorance and hatred. Furthermore, they will help students prepare adequately for a rigorous discussion about the Holocaust with our Founder and Holocaust survivor, Mr. Emil A. Fish. The program was designed by our executive director, Dr. Dan Haumschild, with substantive input by other members of the team, Ms. Anna Hvizdova and Ms. Laura Gutierrez.
Furthermore, we are excited about our work with the archaeologist Juraj Timura and his associates who continue to investigate the discovery of an early 19th century Mikveh in the Suburbium. By the middle of the summer, research on the site should be complete and preservation will be well under way. We are honored to be unearthing this relic of the past for the benefit of both Jewish heritage and Slovak history more broadly.
Plans for the restoration of the Beit Hamidrash have regained their momentum. Architectural drawings and renderings are almost complete and the creative work of imagining how we might utilize this renewed space have begun. BJPC is working with the Israel-based architect Giora Solar and a local team from Olejar Architects to consider the myriad possibilities. Ultimately our aim is to use the Beit Hamidrash as a Jewish Heritage center to tell the story of the community that once filled this space with conversation, prayer and vitality.
As we endeavor toward this project, we welcome your input, your ideas, and your material contributions. If you have a story or an artifact that you believe demonstrates the vibrancy of Jewish Bardejov, we would be delighted to hear from you. Your voice is important to our work.
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We are excited to share our newly relaunched BJPC website featuring a fresh new design and a simplified navigation. Please have a look via the link below! |
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Bardejov Means the World:
"Mr. Andrej Židišin is honored as
Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem"
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In December 2020, the Commission for the Designation of the Righteous at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem decided to award the title "Righteous Among the Nations" to Andrej Židišin, already a member of the 'Righteous of Bardejov'.
It is with immense pleasure that we share this news with you and we hope that you will take great pride and joy in seeing one of the heroes of Bardejov immortalized by this renowned world institution. We believe his honorable and selfless deeds can serve as an inspiration, providing a clear example of selfless bravery. In order to make sure that tragic history will not repeat itself, we must attune ourselves not only to the negative, but also follow the north stars that shone through the darkness. Mr. Židišin was certainly one of the brightest spots in Bardejov's long night.
A Greek Catholic priest in the nearby village of Rešov, Andrej Židišin saved the Atlas, Grossman, and Schondorf families by hiding them in the barn of his house for several months, until the Russians arrived. When the Gestapo came to Rešov, he repeatedly moved these Jewish families from one family to another in different villages. When the Gestapo visited his house, he stood by the door talking to them for a long time to give his daughter time to move the hidden families from his house to a different one.
We hope you'll join us in celebrating the life of Andrej Židišin.
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Andrej Židišin (right), Photo: courtesy of Greek Catholic Archbishop Secretary Office in Prešov |
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Mr. Andrej Zidisin (second from left) with his sisters at a family reunion, 1977 |
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In an ongoing effort to continue uncovering Jewish genealogical connections in Bardejov, BJPC has been working with Genealogist, Linda Gutierrez, to research further, complete and correct the histories of Bardejov's Jewish Families.
If you have any new or more detailed information about your family, any corrections for the Memorial Book, and/or other resources that may be valuable to this research, now would be an excellent time to let us know.
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Mojžiš, teacher, scholar, and baker, was born in Plaveč; his wife, Terézia, was born in Bardejov. They lived on Slovenská Street with Terézia’s brother, Jakub Neumann and his family, and worked in the bakery owned by Terézia’s parents. Before the war began, Mojžiš and Terézia had sent their three children, Lili, Rhoda, and Armin (all of whom were born in Bardejov) to the United States. Lili immigrated in 1936 and Rhoda and Armin in 1939. Mojžiš and Terézia stayed in Bardejov after their children left. They were not deported, having left Bardejov before the deportations began—they fled to the forest and mountains where they were hidden by a righteous gentile farmer for the duration of the war. They returned to Bardejov on February 10, 1945, once more living in their home on Slovenská Street. In October 1947, they immigrated to the United States and settled in Syracuse, New York, where they reunited with their children. In Syracuse, Mojžiš and Terézia ran a Mikvah, and Mojžiš continued teaching. Mojžiš died there in 1955 and Terézia died in 1961. |
L -R Terézia, Rhoda and Mojžiš Birnbaum |
You may read more about Bardejov's Jewish families in our Memorial Book of Jewish Bardejov |
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Don't forget to send us your photos and documents for inclusion in our new publication! We are slowly narrowing down our selections for the book and would love to receive any more submissions before making our final decisions.
If you have any photos or documents relevant to our work that you’d like to share, please reply to this email or call us at 626-773-8808.
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Our mission is to preserve Bardejov’s Jewish Heritage, memorialize and honor Bardejov Holocaust victims, and conduct educational outreach to school and community groups to teach tolerance and diversity. The Bardejov Jewish Preservation Committee relies on on the support of generous individuals like you. Please consider a donation today.
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TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT BJPC:
If you have any friends, or know of someone who may be interested in our organization, please invite them to fill out our mailing list request form so that they can receive updates and information from us.
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