A conference was held in Bardejov last month to commemorate the inclusion of the Bardejov Jewish Suburbia and the Bikkur Cholim synagogue into the Slovak Jewish Heritage Route. The conference was organized by Pavol and Peter Hudak. This effort is the latest by the father and son team to educate the people and community leaders of the area about the history and culture of the former Jewish community of Bardejov. The Bardejov Jewish Preservation Committee is hopeful that the event is another step towards reaching our goal of having the suburbia vacated, restored, and transformed into a monument honoring the memory of the Jews of Bardejov and surrounding areas who perished during the Holocaust. We recently interviewed Peter Hudak regarding this event.
What is the Slovak Jewish Heritage Route and what is Bardejov's association with it?
The Slovak Jewish Heritage Route is the Slovak partner of the European Jewish Heritage Routes which together are a complex project that includes research, education , and promotional activities aimed at advocating for and preserving the Jewish heritage of Slovakia. The Jewish Suburbia on Mlynska Street together with the synagogue Chevra Bikkur Cholim on Klastorska Street compose two of the twenty-five stations that form the Slovak Jewish Heritage Route. The addition of the Jewish Suburbia and the Bikkur Cholim now make Bardejov an important part of the route.
Please tell us about the conference you sponsored.
The conference regarding Jewish heritage in Bardejov and in Slovakia was the common project of the Slovak Jewish Heritage Center, the Bardejov Jewish Preservation Committee, and the Saris Museum. The main goal was to increase awareness about the Jewish heritage and history of Bardejov. the most important part was Dr. Maros Borsky's presentation about the long term strategy for preserving the Jewish heritage in Slovakia and the potential to integrate the Jewish sites into a program for education and tourism. All the lectures tried to encourage the involvement of the public in the preservation of Jewish heritage in Bardejov.
Who attended the conference?
We invited all the people who we believe recognize and value the Jewish heritage of Bardejov and can help extend awareness of this subject to the general public. We were satisfied because most of the visitors were local teachers, professionals in the culture fields, members of the media, and members of the city government and management. Some of the prominent attendees included the mayor of Bardejov, Dr. Boris Hanuscak, Rabbi Jossi Steiner, and especially, the young people!
What were the topics of conversation?
There were three interesting topics. First, the Jewish cultural heritage of Slovakia was presented by Dr. Maros Borksy. Second, the architectural monuments of Jewish culture in Bardejov, presented by Peter Hudak. Finally, the history of the Bardejov Jewish community from the middle ages to the Nazi era was presented by Pavol Hudak.
To what degree are the people of Bardejov gaining an understanding of the Jewish history of the town?
In my opinion, the people of Bardejov are very interested in the Jewish culture and history. The problem is the educational system of the Slovak Republic. The pupils receive minimal education about the minorities including the Jews. Unfortunately, students have no ideas about the Jewish past before the war so they cannot fully appreciate the values and complex culture of the Jewish minority of Slovakia. A lot of people would like to know more but they do not know how or where to find the information. We are trying to give them a chance to learn some fragment from the Jewish past of our town. We are also trying to show that the violence and destruction of the Nazi era was just the surface of the tragedy. The extended tragedy was that a once vibrant, productive, and deeply rooted culture was destroyed.
We have prepared events like the European Day of Jewish Culture, Rudolf Lowy's memorial day, the ceremonies in remembrance of the anniversary of the deportations, and other activities which should increase the interest of people about the history of the Jewish community and religious sites.
Were any conclusions made about the future of the Bardejov Jewish Suburbia?
The answer is not simple. We need to wait and see how the authorities will consider our efforts. They have to understand that the public has an interest in preserving the Jewish Suburbia. The main effort is to bring life to this site. We will create other events with the support of the people of Bardejov. We believe that the authorities will recognize the value of one of the most significant Jewish monuments in Central Europe.
We have presented all the architectural monuments of Jewish culture in Bardejov paying special attention to the Jewish Suburbia. In my lecture, I presented the historical development, architecture, and status of the buildings in the whole complex. At the end of the conference, the Old Synagogue was opened for visitors and they could see the interior. I hope that they Will help the Bardejov Jewish Preservation Committee i the goal of preserving the Jewish Suburbia.
Are there any other comments you would like to make:
I would like to thank all the people of Bardejov who honor the memory of the Jewish community and support the effort to create a monument.
