2

January 29, 1943

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle

PRAGUE: NOW AND BEFORE

against these acts of violence by
visiting the Jewish coffee houses
and supplying the Jews with food.
Up to the outbreak of the sec-
ond World War (September, 1939)
about 10,000 Jews succeeded in
emigrating from the protectorate;
from 1940 on about the same num-
ber were deported to Poland and
approximately 10,000 more were
relegated to the old fortress of
Terezin from the middle of 1941
on. A new anti-Semitic wave fol-
lowed the appointment of Protec-
tor Reinhard Heydrich. Although
hundreds of Jews were arrested,
there were about 65,000 Jews left
in Prague in April, 1942, accord-
ing to a report of the Jewish dele-
gate of the Czech Government in
exile, Emil Frischer. Following the
assassination of Heydrich, more
than 25,000 Jews were killed, ar-
rested or deported up to July,
1942. The number of Jews left
at Prague zit that time was sup-
posed to be 35,000, all in miser-
able condition. According to a
London report of the United Press,
only about 15,000 Jews were still
living in Prague, in September,
1942.

By OSCAR FRANKEL

Editor's Note: An authoritative account of the life now and before
Hitler, of the Jewish community of Prague, former capital of
the Czechoslovak Republic. The article, reprinted here through
the courtesy of the Universal Jewish 'Encyclopedia, appears in
Volume 8 of the Encyclopedia which was recently published.

The prosperous development of
the Jewish population of Prague
during the 20 years of the Czecho-
slovak Republic, from 1918 to
1938, was founded on the declara-
tion by Eduard Benes ". . . in
our young republic the Jews will,
in the same way as other na-
tional minorities, enjoy all minor-
ity rights in addition to civil
equality."
The Jewish community estab-
lished itself upon the foundations
of the old Jewish ghetto under the
administration of such men as
Augustin Stein, Ludvig Singer,
Gottlieb Stein, Max Reiner and
Emil Kafka. A statue of Der Hohe
Rabbi Low symbolically adorned
the entrance to the new town
hall (Radnice). A number of Jews
representing different political sec-
tions were in the administration
of the city of Prague (Langer,
Wiesmeyer, Strauss). Leading eco-
nomic positions were held by the
bank managers Feilchenfeld, Eng-
lander, Otto Freund, Moravetz,
Emil Benedict (in 1942 he was in
New York city), Leopold Stein
(in 1942 he was in Canada),
Stutz, and Petschek. Jews were
appointed in large numbers as
scholars and teachers at the Czech
and German universities of Prague
including Arnold and Friedl Pick,
Kafka, Spiegel, Arnost and Oskar
Kraus,, Ottokar Fischer, Philip
Frank (in 1942 he was at Har-
vard University), R. Furth (in
1942 in England), Utitz, Lowen-
stein, Starkenstein, Steinherz, Pri-
bram, Hermann (in 1942 in New
York City), Walter Redisch, and
Hans Kohn (subsequently of Smith
College, Northampton, Mass.).
From 1933 on a large number of
Jewish scholars, physicians and
educators exiled from Germany
settled in Prague. Leaders in the
press were: Arne Laurin, editor-
-in-chief of the Prager Presse;
Rudolf Keller, publisher; S. Blau,
editor-in-chief of the Prager Tag-
blatt; F. Bacher; Hlavac; E. Mun-
zer.
Many Jews of Prague achieved
fame in literature. Among them
were the ghetto novelists Salomon
Kohn, who wrote in German, and
Vojtech Rakous, who wrote in
Czech.

Among the poets and writers
were Friedrich Adler, Hugo Salus,
Franz Kafka, Frantisck Langer,
Oskar Baum, Max Brod, Rudolf
Fuchs, Egon Erwin Kisch, Franz
Werfel, Ludwig Winder, Fran-
tisek Gottlieb, Richard Weiner,

Josef Kodicek, Hostovsky and F.
C. Weiskopf. Some began their
career under the Austrip em-
pire; some of them wrote in Ger-
man, others in Czech. The com-
poser Jaromir Weinberger; the
artists Orlik, Justic, Gutfreund,
and II. Steiner (in 1942 in New
York City);, the theater director
Angelo Neumann (1885-1910) and,
under him, the conductors Gustav
Mahler, Leo Blech and Arthur
Bodansky; the directors H. Te-
weles, L. Kramer and P. Eger
and, under them, the conductors
A. Zemlinsky and Georg Szell; and
the actors Hugo Haas (in 1942
in New York City), Ernest
Deutsch and Franz Lederer (in
1942 both in Hollywood) were
prominent in their respective
branches of art. In the field of
motion pictures, Auerbach and
Kossek (in 1942 both in New York
city) ; in broadcasting and -adult
education, Oskar Frank! (in 1942
in New York City) Nottl (in 1942
in Princeton), Fischer (in 1912
in London) and M. Deutsch (in
1942 in New York) : in the field
of education, the college and sec-
ondary school principals G. Flus-
ser and H. Perutz (in 1942 in
New York City); in government
and politics, the government secre-
taries and political leaders L.
Czech, S. Taub (in 1942 in the
United States), Me;sner, Winter
and Stransky, and the master of
protocol G. Guth achieved out-
standing positions.
In 1921 there were 31,751 Jews
in Prague (16,342 gave their na-
tionality as Czech, 7406 as Ger-
mans, 5,900 as Jewish, and 1,795
were foreigners). In 1930 33,620
Jews were counted at Prague
(among them 17,200 of Czechs,
5,700 of German and 8,470 of
Jewish nationality). Fifty-one per
cent of the Jews of Prague were
engaged in commerce, 9.1 per cent
in banking, 20 per cent were law-
yers, and 8.4 per cent were phy-
sicians.
Organizations began to flourish
in Prague as early as the 16th
century. Every synagogue had its
societies under such names as
Baruch Sheamar, Shibeah Ker-
uim, Hebrath Mishnayoth and He-
brath Tehillim; in addition, there
were in some cases a Hebrath
Hatzoth and even societies for re-
ceiving the Sabbath with song and
instrumental music. Among the
old societies the Hebrah Kad-
disha retained its priority and im-
portance; for more than 400 years
it gave an example of good work.

If You Are Interested In Quality Meat, Call at

11632 Dexter Blvd.

(Between Burlingame and Webb)

Aaron B. Margolis

Kosher Meat IS Poultry Market

Enameled Wood

.

NO WAITING—IMMEDIATE DELIVERY

INTOR
LAINST E
LIRAP
et
111110 941
1ng AH
AND

FOCRSY

OplAts

Of"

BROTHERHOOD WEEK

E 13 RUARY . 1. 9 .28

.

ay

COMrtCti,

It also had numbers of auxiliaries.
Philanthropic work was admin-
istered by the centralized Israelite
Social Service. In addition, the
Prague community had the Lam-
mel Foundation, several orphanages
a home for the aged, the Social
Institute and a Hospital Commit-
tee (chairman, H. Lieben). The
cultural institutions included the
Jewish school society which, apart
from the religious schools of the
community, maintained a Jewish
public school with Czech as the
language of instruction; the Jew-
ish Museum, one of the oldest in-
stitutions of its kind; and the So-
ciety for the History of the Jews
in Czezchoslovakia. The Afiko Ju-
dah Society for the advancement
of the science of Judaism was
founded in 1896. A number of
student societies represented var-
ious religious and political opin-
ions. Zionist societies played a
great role in Prague under the
Czechoslovak republic, in addition
to the Svaz Ceckych Zidu (Corpo-
ration of Czech Jews). The Beth
Haam (House of the people) So-
ciety erected a fine society build-
ing.
Prague was the seat also of
the Supreme Council of the Com-
munities of Bohemia, Moravia and
Silesia, binical union of Bohemia.
From 1933 on the Prague Jewish
community built up an organiza-
tion for aid to refugees from Ger-
many.
Jewish periodicals published in
Prague were: Rozvoj, the organ
of the Czech Jews; Selbstwehr
(Felix Weltsch, editor), Zidovske
Zpravy (Jewish News), the organs
of the Zionists.
After the signing of the Four
Power Pact in Munich (Septem-
ber, 1938), about 15,000 Jews im-
migrated into Prague from the
Sudeten district ceded to Germany.

,

MOLLY SEGAL AUXILIARY

-

'

I 9 4 4 3

et . CHAIWAT.I$

A ND )f

The anti-Semitic measures adopt-
ed by the Second Republic (under
Ilacha and Beran) under German
pressure, including the dismissal
of state officials, school teachers
and university professors, greatly
affected the Jews of Prague. On
March 15, 1939, the Germans
entered Prague. On the same day,
within an hour, all Jews were
driven out of the editorial offices
of Czech newspapers, and out of
the theaters and film studios. Jew-
ish-owned bank accounts as well
as safe deposits were blocked;
Jews were ordered to give up all
precious stones; the transfer of
Jewish-owned real estate without
official consent was prohibited.
Jews were forbidden to enter cof-
fee houses and restaurants, with
very few exceptions; they were
barred from visiting certain parks
and baths; subsequently they were
excluded from theaters and moving
picture theaters, and a curfew was
imposed upon them.
Jews were arrested by thou-
sands without any reason, and
sent to concentration camps. An
attempt was made to demolish the
Altneuschul and the historic Jew-
ish cemetery in Prague, but these
attempts were frustrated by the
Czech police despite express or-
ders to the contrary received by
them from the German authorities.
A public exhibition organized by
the Gestapo under the general
title of "The Jews as an Enemy
of Humanity" was widely publi-
cized and used as an instrument
to revive the blood libel. A Jewish
emigration center was established
in July, 1939, in order to force
the Jews out of the protectorate.
All Jews living in the protectorate
were ordered to liquqidate their
businesses at short notice and to
remove to Prague. The non-Jew-
ish public of Prague demonstrated

VENETIAN BLINDS

Highest Quality — Cus-

tom Type. Gleaming

$3.98 Value

Closed head, fine worm

2'9

gear tilt device. Col-

Enamel Wood Slat

Blinds.

No

waiting—de-

livery today. All sizes

in stock from 19" width

up to

48•

width at

special sale prices.

'

These sixes only --
19" x 50"; 21" x 56";
22" x 55".

SHER WIN- WILLIAMS

2036 Woodward Ave.

Cherry

6143

14212 Gratiot Ave.
.trlIngton 1100

ors: white, light ivory.

Also small stock of me-

tal blinds still available

in most all sizes.

(6 Stores)

14236 Michigan Ave. 9341 Gd. River Ave.
ceder 1122
itoeoriu tslo
12927 E. Jeff. Ave.
14495 Gd. River Ave.
Lenox 0033
V ermont 3-3730

Molly Segal Auxiliary of the
Jewish Consumptive Relief So-
ciety of Denver, Col., held a
meeting Jan. 19. Mrs. A. Gold,
president, reported that a pa-
tient was sent to the Denver
sanatorium. At the meeting the
date was set for the 10th annual
donor luncheon, June 1„ at Lach-
ar's auditorium on Joy Rd. There
will also be a card party on May
18 for members and friends, the
purpose being to make plans for
the donor luncheon. Mrs. Water-
stone and Mrs. Saidman, chair-
men of the affair, promise a suc-
cessful donor luncheon.

*

,

*

Mai 2/o4iBiat

ymninus

A pelorus, used by the Navy, is a
device which fits over the surface of
a compass to enable the operator
to take bearings on distant objects.
It has split hair sights, has been in
use for many years . . . and costs
approximately $125.

These instruments are essential
equipment to every American ship
which comes out of the shipyards.
With the scores of ships now being
completed each month, we need
many of these instruments. Your
purchase of War Bonds and Stamps
will help pay for them. Invest at
least ten percent of your income ev-
ery I ayday in these interest bear-
Ihg Cm , .rriment securities.

SA 1,E—APART3IEN T PROPERTY

awr
OE
FILL THE TANK, BP'
10U CHTAINO CAN
11J. UP THIS WAR
STAMP ALBUM
FOP1 ME !

.

AROUND
THE CLOCK

Everythne the flock ticks—some-
body wants to sell—somebody wants
to buy. This makem business—busk
lleSs Is the
Sueeess Story of the
American Way of Life. See Mr.
Itedford for Facts and Figures.

INV EMI'

$'7,2011--- sit back with
after all !axes
payments while It pays
for itself. Modern 19 unit tine 1.01111.
.111st one of these In all this great
city.

$2.500

yr clear Cash

..X1P1.11,11' 11111i

INI. Es.r $13,000 — Nets $7,000 yr
after all taxes rind expense. Solid
masonry and steel. 27 opts new re-
frig stoker. Location
secure' rents
;111.1 endues. Cost $91,000 to build.
Ent lie pH., $40.0011. New easy nitg
$25,0 ■ 10.

or

IN EsT svomoo — Large II apt
new stoves all new reit lg. Earns
17% net on entire price of $ 55 . 00,1
Former $200,000 value. Compare with
any other secure Investment.

IN v
roams.
$35,0110-36 apts
Marble entianee lobby tiled halls
elevator
stoves III.W (Ankh-so
heater. Rents $16,000. Entire price
$90,000 • sold Oflef. $159,000.

ISOMER IYARREN

59

& CO.

Years Dependable Semler

000 Dime Bldg.

('A. 0321