Explore Jewish
Prague & Czechia

10.5 million

country population

2,700-8,000*

Jewish population

1919

JDC entry date

At times uplifting, at other times tragic, the story of Jewish Czechia is a tale of hope in the face of catastrophe.

Jews are believed to have lived in Bohemia and Moravia, the historic territories that constitute Czechia, or the Czech Republic, since the 10th century, developing a rich history throughout the Middle Ages. Tragically, during the Holocaust, the Jewish community of the region lost 80 percent of its population. Following the liberation of the concentration camps, JDC was deeply engaged in rehabilitation, particularly by assisting some 250,000 Czech refugees to emigrate to then-Palestine.

In the shadow of the Holocaust, Czech Jews began rebuilding Jewish life, only to face a communist takeover in 1948. Nearly two generations of Jews grew up under communist rule, when Jewish expression was highly restricted and almost no emigration was permitted. The Velvet Revolution ended communist rule in 1989, leading to the dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1992 and the creation of Czechia and Slovakia, two separate nations.

In the years since, JDC has played a critical role in helping the Jewish community get back on its feet, provide for its elderly, reinvigorate involvement of Jewish youth and students, and find new pluralistic expressions of Jewish life, such as the first Czech-Slovak Limmud-Keshet conference.

Today, these investments have paid ample dividends — the Czech Jewish community is a model of resilient, sustainable Jewish life, and JDC is proud to have helped Jewish Czechia reach this bright new chapter.

Providing Pan-European Connections and Training

JDC’s involvement today focuses on building the capacity of the community’s professionals, leaders and future activists, with training that strengthens local leadership and provides access to best-in-class ideas and peer-learning. JDC does this by involving Czech Jewish leaders in several pan-European programs, events and seminars. These include: Yesod Europe, which empowers Jewish community professionals and educators through professional development and Jewish learning opportunities; Leatid, which helps Jewish professionals connect and learn through management courses, planning sessions, and in-service training opportunities; Junction, which provides leadership training and micro-grants for programs led by young European Jewish adults; and Szarvas, the JDC-Lauder international Jewish summer camp in rural Hungary, which develops teen activists from across Europe. From these pan-European programs, teens, young adults and professionals return to their local Czech community infused with creative ideas, cutting-edge skills, a strong network, and a real sense of excitement and purpose.

Celebrating Self-Sufficiency

When communism collapsed, JDC helped cultivate Czech Jewish life and serve the community’s most vulnerable members. Today, JDC is proud of the Czech Jewish community’s self-sufficient status. Given the community’s financial security, JDC has handed over all welfare programs, including a nursing home, to the community. JDC also successfully transitioned children’s initiatives and pluralistic Jewish programs to community ownership. The local Czech Jewish community now runs and supports them with JDC consultation and mentorship.

Empowering Local Initiatives

JDC continues to provide support for relevant and vital local initiatives, undertaken in cooperation with Czech Jewish organizations. These initiatives serve as a foundation for advancing Jewish renewal and upgrading community development on both local and national levels. For example, JDC helps finance the Three Generation Center, which brings together children, parents, and elderly members of the community to promote intergenerational communication and the development of Jewish traditions. JDC also continues to be a partner for Limmud conferences, children and youth programs, and activities at JCC Prague.