Jews in Jihlava

EN Jews in Jihlava – chronology 13th century Jews settle in Jihlava 1262 “Statuta Judaeorum” of Přemysl Otakar II – 32 articles defining the rights and obligations of Jewish inhabitants 25 August 1345 order on acceptance of Jews in Jihlava 1425(24) expulsion of Jews from Jihlava 1454 expulsion of Jews from Jihlava and other Moravian royal towns (Brno, Olomouc, Znojmo, Uničov) 18 May 1709 permission for Jewish participation in markets in Moravian royal towns; the fee for the Jihlava market was 15 and later 17 kreuzers 1858 Jewish religious society established in Jihlava 1862–1863 erection of a new synagogue in Jihlava 1918–1938 rich society life – “Chewra Kadisha,” “Chanuka,” “Society of Theodor Herzel,” “Jewish society of ladies,” “Makabi” sports club, “Schir-Zion” choir, etc. 15 March 1939 occupation of the Czech lands by the German army 16 March 1939 declaration of the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia 30 March 1939 plundering and burning of the Jihlava synagogue by SA members 1940 limitation of citizens’ rights of the Jewish population in the Protectorate, prohibition on visiting public premises, cultural and sports Jews events, etc. 19 September 1941 obligatory identification of Jews older than Germany 6 by a Jewish star in the Reich and Protectorate 1942 starting in April Jihlava’s were deported to Poland in Jihlava a collection camp in Třebíč and subsequently to Terezín, beginning the mass convoys to Auschwitz Prague After 1945 temporary renewal of Jihlava’s Jewish community 1947–1950 emigration wave to the West and to Israel 1950 demolition of the synagogue’s remains Czech Republic Jihlava 1968–1969 modifications of the Jewish cemetery 9 April 1992 unveiling of a commemorative plaque in places Brno where the synagogue used to stand 8 May 1995 ceremonial unveiling of a monument to victims of the holocaust in the Jewish cemetery Austria Slovak Republic 7 July 2010 ceremonial opening of a park with a statue of Gustav Mahler where the burnt-down Gustav Mahler House synagogue on Benešova Street stood, as a part Znojemská 4, 586 01 Jihlava of celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the Tel.: +420 565 591 849 composer’s birth E-mail: [email protected] open: October–March: Tue–Sat 9–12, 12.30–17 April–September: Tue–Sun 9–12, 12.30–17 Issued by the Statutory Town of Jihlava in 2018, 500 copies printed. Photographs: Photographic archive of the Museum of the Highlands in Jihlava. Translation: Ing. Arch. Ivan Anděra. Graphic layout by Eva Bystrianská. Printed by Nová tiskárna Pelhřimov spol. s r. o. www.mahler.cz židé/ANGLICKY/vnějšek 1 2 3 4 5 6 History Synagogue and cemetery veral emigration waves to the West and to Israel. Today the A Jewish population settled in Jihlava as early as the 13th In 1858 a Jewish religious society was established in Jih- long centuries of Jewish history in Jihlava are commemora- century. During this period the first written mentions of lo- lava, and later on it was promoted to a church community. ted by a plaque located on a town wall on the site of the cal Jews in the well-known Jihlava mining and town laws A synagogue was located first in a private house in the suburb former synagogue (unveiled in 1992), by the cemetery, and were recorded. However, a more marked influx into their of the Virgin Mary, and subsequently at Žižkova Street No. by an exhibition in the Museum of the Highlands in Jihlava. population and the flourishing of their businesses did not 18. Because of the large number of worshippers and the start to occur until the 14th century. This is to be credited in insufficient capacity of these sanctuaries, in 1862–1863 Important personalities particular to a decree on the acceptance of Jews in Jihlava a brand new synagogue was built. It was located on what In Jihlava a number of important personalities of Jewish (25 August 1345), issued by the then-Moravian margrave, is today Benešova Street. The synagogue was built in the heritage were born, for instance, the poet and politician later the Emperor Charles IV. The Jihlava community grew Romanesque-Moorish style and consecrated ceremonially on Louis Fürnberg (1909–1957), the director Karel Meinhard rich and specialized particularly in trade and finance. Gradu- 9 September 1863. In 1869 a Jewish cemetery was esta- (1875–1949), the singer Jára Pospíšil (1905–1979), the ally Jews started to settle in the vicinity of today’s Mother blished, and it still exists to this day. Many significant perso- writer Ernst Sommer (1888–1955), the banker Karel von of God Street, in places later named Front and Rear Jewish nalities of what was then the Jewish community are buried Morawitz (1846–1914), and the anatomist and politician Streets. The medieval district also comprised a synagogue, there, such as Rabbi Unger and the parents and siblings of Dr. Julius Tandler (1869–1939). From 1860 to 1912 Dr. a school, and a cemetery. the composer Gustav Mahler. Jakob Joachim Unger served there as a rabbi. Also, the A period of a relative peace, interrupted only by occa- famous composer and conductor Gustav Mahler spent his sional raids against the ever more markedly prospering The Fateful 20th century childhood and youth there (1860–1875). community, ended with the violent Hussite wars. In 1425 WWII drastically impacted the life of Jihlava’s Jewish com- an order was issued on expelling Jews from Jihlava. Despite munity. From the original Jewish population, which as late this radical measure Jews also turned up in the town in the as 1941 had more than 1,700 members, only a few do- following decades, even though there were further expul- zen survived the war’s hardships. On 30 March 1939 the sions in 1454. Nazis set fire to the synagogue building and destroyed it. 1 view of the Jewish cemetery entrance In the course of the 18th century the situation changed. The same fate also met the cemetery’s ceremonial hall and 2 tombstone of Mahler’s parents in the cemetery Entry into the town by Jews was officially allowed again, and most of the tombstones. Gradually citizens’ rights were 3 Gustav Mahler in 1871 the Jews could participate in markets against payment. They limited for Jews, ending with their complete exclusion from 4 interior of the Jewish synagogue could enter the town through only one town gate – Mother social and public life and subsequent convoys. 5 exterior of the Jewish synagogue of God Gate – and they had to spend nights outside the After end of WWII the Jewish community was renewed 6 jewish wedding town’s walls. for only a short time. In the following years there were se- On the title page: jewish Torah židé/ANGLICKY/vnitřek.

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