The Bardejov Jewish Heritage Foundation was honored to host our annual Holocaust Commemoration Ceremony under the theme “Memory and Responsibility,” bringing together Holocaust survivors and their families, diplomats, government officials, City Officials, educators, students, and members of the public to remember the victims of the Holocaust while celebrating the rich heritage of Bardejov’s historic Jewish community.
Our ceremony opened with a reflection on the growing importance of Holocaust education in light of the alarming rise in antisemitism around the world. As the number of Holocaust survivors continues to diminish, we emphasized our shared responsibility to preserve their stories and ensure that future generations understand the consequences of hatred and intolerance.
A central part of the ceremony was the Lighting of the Memorial Candles. Students from Leonard Stöckel High School lit thirteen candles before the Memorial Tablets bearing the names of Bardejov’s Holocaust victims, honoring not only those who perished from Bardejov, but also the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, the one and a half million Jewish children murdered, the Righteous Among the Nations, resistance fighters, liberators, survivors, and the enduring responsibility to carry memory and hope into the future.
We were honored to welcome Rabbi Misha Kapustin—chief Rabbi of the Central Association of Jewish Religious Communities in the Slovak Republic (UZZNO)—from Bratislava, and Chabad Rabbi Zev Stiefl from Košice, who recited the Kaddish and El Maleh Rahamim, the traditional Jewish prayers of remembrance for the departed.
Throughout the ceremony, music provided moments of reflection and hope. Bronislava Mlynaričová and Kristián Jančošek, local students from Bardejov, performed the moving Holocaust remembrance song Eli, Eli by Hannah Senesh. Later in the program, the Blue Art School Children's Choir and student musicians performed the Hebrew song Ani Ve'Ata ("You and I Will Change the World"), celebrating the power of individuals working together to create a more compassionate world. The ceremony concluded with a stirring performance of I Believe, a musical setting of the famous words discovered on the wall of a concentration camp, expressing hope and faith even in humanity's darkest moments. The Children’s Choir along with Bronislava Mlynaričová and Kristián Jančošek performed the moving song together.
We were privileged to hear remarks from Mr. Emil A. Fish, the founder of the Bardejov Jewish Heritage Foundation and a Holocaust survivor, whose vision has guided efforts to restore the Jewish Suburbia and preserve the memory of Jewish Bardejov. Additional addresses were delivered by Mr. Štefan Hij, representing the City of Bardejov; His Excellency Rudolf Jindrák, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Slovakia; His Excellency Dr. Csaba Balogh, Ambassador of Hungary to Slovakia; His Excellency Jacob Zvi Yanovsky, Ambassador of Israel to Slovakia, through a recorded video message; and Mr. Richard Duda, President of the Central Union of Jewish Religious Communities in Slovakia (UZZNO). Their remarks underscored the importance of remembrance, education, international cooperation, and the continued fight against antisemitism.
One of the highlights of this year's program was our annual Holocaust Essay and Art Contest, which continues to inspire young people to engage with the history and heritage of Jewish Bardejov. This year, we were delighted to receive submissions from students representing nine local schools. In addition to our essay contest and our high school visual arts categories which include 2D & 3D work, and photography & video, we introduced a new elementary school art contest focused on Jewish heritage. We were deeply encouraged by the enthusiasm, creativity, and thoughtful work demonstrated by all of the participants.
During the awards ceremony, finalists and winners were recognized across each contest category, with certificates presented to every participating student in appreciation of their commitment to preserving memory through education and artistic expression. We also conveyed our sincere gratitude to the teachers, school administrators, and volunteer judges whose dedication made the contest possible.
As the ceremony concluded, guests were invited to continue the evening with a reception outside the restored Beith Hamidrash, exhibitions of the student artwork and winning essays inside the Mikvah, a guided tour of the Jewish Suburbia Complex, and a screening of the film BARDEJOV, produced by Emil A. Fish.
Through remembrance, education, music, and community partnership, our annual commemoration reaffirmed the Bardejov Jewish Heritage Foundation's commitment to preserving the memory of those who were lost, honoring the legacy of the Jewish community that once thrived in Bardejov, and ensuring that the lessons of the Holocaust continue to inspire future generations to stand against hatred, antisemitism, racism, xenophobia, and all forms of intolerance in the pursuit of a more just, compassionate, and peaceful world.
