Kick Off the Jewish Culture Festival
In the beautiful town of Trebic, located in the Highlands, the exciting holiday season is celebrated with the Festival of Jewish Culture. This vibrant festival builds on previous events like the Revived Jewish Town and Shamayim, while also introducing fresh experiences for everyone—adults and kids, those new to the culture or seasoned connoisseurs, as well as fans of history. The festival takes place in remarkable locations within the Jewish Quarter, such as the Rear Synagogue, the Seligmann Bauer House, the G34 Gallery, and includes a tour of the historic Jewish cemetery. A well-loved program called “Come and join the Bauers” offers entertainment like a funny play from a local theatre group and screenings of films such as “Shop on the Corniche,” along with short documentaries like “Futterweit Katarina” and “Lefkovits Ivan.” On Sunday, attendees can take part in a guided tour of the Jewish Quarter and cemetery, led by an experienced guide.
Booths will be set up in the square in front of the Rear Synagogue, focusing specifically on Jewish items. Visitors will enjoy concerts featuring klezmer and Hasidic music, along with theatre and dance performances, and informative lectures throughout the festival. The event is designed for families with children, offering special exhibitions and classes in klezmer, Balkan, and folk dances. On Wednesday, an exhibition featuring old photographs, creatively altered using the patchwork method, will open. On Thursday, interesting lectures will address the confiscation of artworks during the Protectorate and the Jewish community in Slovakia, hosted in the Zadní synagogue. Additionally, the Seligmann Bauer House will hold a Dinner with Music on a Plate, where attendees will take part in a workshop to create a five-course meal. On Friday, an exhibition showcasing iconic photographs that portray Israel’s modern history will be presented in honor of the 75th anniversary of the State of Israel, featuring various Jewish bands performing throughout the day. Saturday will feature an exciting lineup, including a Hebrew language workshop, screening of the aforementioned films, lectures, dance performances accompanied by workshops, and klezmer concerts. Finally, on Sunday, participants can look forward to guided tours of both the Jewish cemetery and the Jewish Quarter.
The Male Chaim festival is not just an event to explore Jewish culture; it primarily serves as a meeting place bringing together talented musicians, wonderful artists, and fascinating personalities. This festival pays tribute to a distinguished local hero, Antonín Kalin, who saved numerous Jewish children and earned the title of Righteous Among the Nations. During World War II, he rescued approximately nine hundred Jewish boys. Among the notable personalities at the festival is Naftali Ďuro Fürst, a camp survivor and one of the children saved by Antonín Kalin from Buchenwald concentration camp. He was awarded the Simon Wiesenthal Prize in March 2024 and actively participates in historical education at Yad Vashem in Israel. Additionally, he serves as the chair of the advisory board for former Buchenwald inmates and as the president of the International Buchenwald-Dora and Commandos Committee.
