Altnaj-Synagoge
Altnaj-Synagoge
Spanische Synagoge
Pinkas Synagoge
Pinkas Synagoge
Rabbiner Karel Sidon (Mitte) im Kreise engagierter Helfer, vor der
Altnaj-Synagoge
Bank
Account: 179139212/0300
Name of the Account: Prague Jewish Community (Zidovska obec v Praze)
Name of the Bank: CSOB, Prague 7
SWIFT: CEKOCZPP |
PRESS
RELEASE - 08/15/2002 - Prague experienced devastating floods yesterday.
The Jewish Town was, as expected, one of the areas affected by the
Vltava River. All buildings had to be evacuated in the morning and the
whole area was sealed by police patrols.
The highest
wave, much higher than the historical flood record of 1890, came at
around 5pm. Rescue work started early in the morning today as the level
of Vltava River appeared to decline. The whole Jewish Town was affected
by the underground water, which probably came through the sewage system.
All
synagogues and other Jewish facilities are flooded to the street level.
The two most famous Prague synagogues are filled with water - the Old
New Synagogue built in 13th century and the Pinkas Synagogue, a unique
memorial to the Shoa victims with interior walls covered with names of
Jews from Bohemia and Moravia deported by the Nazis to death camps. Some
street surfaces have been washed away by the flooding leaving large
holes across a swathe of the Jewish Town, and there is a danger that
some precious places such as Old Jewish Cemetery could be damaged by
fallen trees or erosion.
The
Jewish Museum administration building was also badly hit by underground
flooding. Museum officials succeeded in moving precious Jewish artifacts
such as Torah shields, pointers, manuscripts and rare books in advance
of the floods, but the administration building is likely to be without
electricity for several weeks. The museum's air-conditioning system has
also been put out of action, threatening damage to rare manuscripts and
books.
Preliminary estimates of damage caused by the flooding stand at about $4
million.
The
Prague Jewish Community and Jewish Museum are appealing to Jews around
the world and all people who appreciate the importance of Jewish Prague
to support our effort to save Prague's Jewish treasures. The Prague
Jewish Community has established a US dollar Bank Account where
contributions can be sent. The use of funds will be publicly reported
and audited.
RECEIVED SUPPORT |
The Prague Jewish Community has set up a temporary office in Charles
Jordan Senior House, Milady Horakove 129/300, 160 00 Prague 6, Czech
Republic; e-mail: franken@bon.cz
Tomas
Jelinek, chairman of the Prague Jewish Community
Rabbi Efraim Sidon
Leo Pavlat, director the Jewish Museum in Prague |
