Author: David Borges

  • Stolperstein za Hanuše Polacha

    Stolperstein for Hanuš Polach

    On 15 October 2025, a memorial stone (Stolperstein) was laid in Prague’s Holešovice district, in front of the house at U Smaltovny 19, to commemorate lawyer JUDr. Hanuš (Hans) Polach.

    Hanuš Polach was born in 1899 in Vienna. He graduated from the Faculty of Law of the German University in Prague, where he later worked as a trainee lawyer. He subsequently served as a legal counsel for a pension insurance company. Together with his wife Elisabeth, née Adler from Hamburg, and their daughter Dita, he lived in a modern “electric” house on U Smaltovny Street.

    JUDr. Hanuš Polach s rodinou
    JUDr. Hans Polach with his family (1932), source: Wikimedia

    After the establishment of the Protectorate, Hanuš Polach lost his job and the family was forced to leave their apartment in Holešovice. On 20 November 1942, they were deported to the Terezín ghetto, and a year later transferred to Auschwitz. Hanuš Polach was killed there on 5 February 1944; his wife died several months after the end of the war as a result of her imprisonment.

    Only their daughter Dita survived. Two years after the war, she married Ota Kraus, and in 1949 the couple emigrated to Israel with their young daughter.

    Stolpersteine, small brass cubes set into the pavement, commemorate the victims of Nazi persecution – those who were murdered, deported, or forced to flee. In Prague alone, there are now more than 850.

    If you would like to contribute to their maintenance, you can help by cleaning the stones (instructions here). You can send the result to info@stolpersteinecz.cz or share it on social media using the hashtag #cistimeStolpersteine.

    cover photo: Hana Janišová

  • Odhalení pamětní desky

    Unveiling of the Memorial Plaque

    On September 18, 2025, the Pinkas Synagogue in Prague hosted the ceremonial unveiling of the renewed memorial plaque dedicated to the Righteous Among the Nations.

    Celým programem provázela Petra Schwarz Koutská. Mezi řečníky vystoupila ředitelka Židovského muzea v Praze Pavla Niklová, Ladislav Katuščák, který nese jméno po zachránci, a Alena Drmolová, zastupující rodinu spravedlivých.

    O památníku promluvili také jeho autoři Lucie a Jaroslav Róna. Závěrečné poděkování pronesl František Bányai jménem Veřejně prospěšného spolku na podporu osob dotčených holocaustem.

    Lucie a Jaroslav Rónovi, creators of the Memorial plaque

    Musical accompaniment was provided by baritone Václav Dlask, soprano Veronika Kaiserová, and bass David Malát. They performed songs from Slavdom in Its Songs by Ludvík Kuba: the Czech folk song Široký hluboký from the Kouřim region, the Moravian song Už sa ty horečky zelenajú from Vizovice, and the Slovak song Láska, bože, láska! (“Love, oh God, Love!”).

    The ceremony was an expression of deep respect for those who, in times of persecution, did not hesitate to risk their own lives to save others. The organizers thanked all donors who supported the renewal of the memorial.

    Fero Bányai
    Fero Bányai, Chair of Spolek

    “I believe that most participants felt the uniqueness of the event, the strength of emotions, and how important the inclusion of the Righteous’ names was for the family. I was truly glad that, thanks to the donors, the addition of the names to the memorial could be realized – for the descendants of both the Righteous and the rescued, it was profoundly meaningful. I thank everyone who supported the project and came to the unveiling.”

    Fero Bányai

    Pamětní deska Spravedlivý mezi národy
    The newly unveiled memorial plaque

    “When a representative of the Gerstein family, rescued by the Righteous Among the Nations, approached us with the request to add the names of their rescuers to the memorial at the Pinkas Synagogue, it was clear that such a request could not be denied. Thanks above all to Fero Bányai, but also to many other dedicated people, this has now been achieved. The story shared with us at the unveiling by Mrs. Alena Drmolová, a descendant of the rescuers’ family, was more than an inspiration – it was a true reward for the effort invested.”

    Michal Borges

  • Nové Stolpersteine v Praze

    New Stolpersteine in Prague

    On September 16 and 17, fifty-one new Stolpersteine were laid at twenty-five locations in Prague. With this act, the city once again commemorated the victims of the Nazi regime and their stories.

    The Stolpersteine project makes a significant contribution to society’s living memory – it draws attention to the horrors and crimes of Nazism and restores to the public space the names of those who were silenced.

    The laying of the stones is requested not only by the victims’ relatives but often also by civic organizations or even the homeowners themselves. Each stone thus becomes a small act of remembrance – a tribute to a specific person and their symbolic return home.

    Among the figures honored with Stolpersteine this year were, for example, Pavel Tigrid and Karel Švenk, the author of the Terezín anthem.

    starosta Jan Čižinský pokládá Stolperstein v Praze 7
    The Mayor of Prague 7, Jan Čižinský, at the laying of the stones
    Nově položené Stolpersteine pro rodinu Klauber
    Stolpersteine commemorating the Klauber family

    Pokládání kamenů se tradičně účastní řada významných osobností. Letos mezi ně patřili velvyslanci Německa a Rakouska, starosta Prahy 7, zastupitelé Magistrátu hl. města Prahy a městských částí Praha 2 a Praha 3, ředitelé Česko-německého fondu budoucnosti, ředitelka Národního pedagogického muzea a mnoho dalších.

    Among the important witnesses to the laying of Stolpersteine were also children from the Lauder Schools.

    Over the past thirteen years, approximately 880 Stolpersteine have been laid in Prague. Their locations and the stories of individual victims can be found at www.stolpersteinecz.cz.

  • Projekt Stolpersteine

    Project Stolpersteine

    Ve dnech 16. a 17. září 2025 proběhne v Praze další kolo pokládání Stolpersteine.

    Více informací o tomto projektu můžete najít na stránce Memory or directly www.stolpersteinecz.cz.

  • Projekt obnovení pamětní desky českým Spravedlivým mezi národy

    Memorial plaque restoration for Czech Righteous Among Nations

    The fundraising campaign to restore the memorial plaque was successful. We sincerely thank all donors. The unveiling will take place on September 18 at 5 PM in the courtyard of the Pinkas Synagogue.

    Pozvánka na odhalení pamětní desky Spravedliví mezi národy

    For more information see details here or contact us via e-mail.

  • Spolek podpořil Domov sociální péče Hagibor

    Financial support to the Hagibor Social Care Home

    Over the past two years, the Association has once again contributed to equipping the Hagibor Social Care Home. In line with current needs, two electric hoist slings were purchased to assist staff with the physically demanding task of transferring and repositioning clients. A bariatric shower bed was also acquired, enabling dignified hygiene care for people with limited mobility and higher body weight.

  • Annual Members Meeting 2024

    On 12 December 2024, the Association held its Annual General Meeting, attended by 17 members. Guests included the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Hagibor Foundation, the Director of the Hagibor Social Care Home, and other invited guests.

    The meeting reviewed the draft Annual Report and discussed both the acceptance and distribution of donations to support social and healthcare services, as well as donations to the Holocaust Victims Foundation and the Rafael Institute.

    The Annual Report and other documents are filed in accordance with the law with the Collection of Deeds.

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