Items added on Feb. 25, 2000 -

• Continuing Controversy? - A letter forwarded by Reuven Schijveschuurder on behalf of "The Committe for the Preservation of Jewish Cemetries in Europe"

• News article from Prague  - by Reuters News Group

Items added on Feb. 29, 2000 -

• Archaeological Report: Discovery and Protection of a Medieval Cemetery at Prague's New Town

• Statement received  - from  the Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic

Items added on March 4, 2000 -

• Press Release  - from the Committee for the Preservation of Jewish Cemetries in Europe

• Radio Prague E-news (from Jan. 3, 2000) -Israel's Chief Rabbi says work must stop on burial site

• ISJM Report on the Prague Cemetery Controversy (from March 3, 2000) - "Old Jewish Cemetery" not in Danger, but Conflict Continues over Medieval Cemetery in Nove Mesto

Item added on March 31, 2000 -

• Czech Govt Agrees to Preserve Jewish Cemetery Site - a Reuters news report - The Czech cabinet agreed on March 29 to a compromise plan which allows for the construction of an office building over the site of a medieval Jewish cemetery while preserving the centuries old remains.

 

      The Jewish Community in Prague and its Chief Rabbi consider it their duty to correct certain disinformation spread outside the Czech Republic in the course of a campaign to save the preserved sections of a Jewish cemetery in Prague which had been abolished more than five hundred years ago. The Jewish Community in Prague and its Chief Rabbi wish to provide true information to the Jewish and Non-Jewish public, above all outside the Czech Republic, about the true state of affairs.

The Prague Jewish cemetery, the oldest in Europe, contains the graves of such famous rabbis and scholars as Joseph Karo and Judah Loew ben Bezalel

First of all, we must stress that the Jewish cemetery whose parts were unearthed by the Ceska Pojistovna (Czech Insurance Company) during the construction of an underground parking lot far beyond the limits of the former Jewish Quarter had been abolished in the 15th century of the common era and is by no means identical with the world-famous Jewish cemetery located within the former Jewish Quarter. The latter, commonly known as the Old Jewish Cemetery, is a burial ground founded in the 15th century within the walls of the Jewish Quarter (it contains, among others, the grave of Maharal).

This existing (never abolished) Old Jewish Cemetery is owned by the Jewish Community in Prague and is administered by the Jewish Museum. The Old Jewish Cemetery is accessible daily except Shabbat and other Jewish holidays to hundreds of visitors from all over the world; we consider the allegation that the Jewish Community would give its consent to the construction of an underground parking lot under a cemetery owned by the Jewish Community to be an inexcusable defamation.

     The Jewish cemetery in question (not identical with the existing Old Jewish Cemetery located in a completely different part of Prague) was abolished in 1478 by the Czech sovereign Ladislas Jagiello (Vladislav Jagelonský). In the course of following five centuries, buildings were erected on the territory of this abolished cemetery; any skeletal remains of our ancestors found during the construction work performed there within half a millenium had been exhumed and reburied at the still existing Old Jewish Cemetery within Prague's Jewish Quarter; understandably, after such a prolonged period of construction activities in a densely populated urban area, neither the Jewish Community nor any historians or archeologists could foresee the existence of any preserved parts of the former cemetery including those discovered at the present construction site of the Czech Insurance Company.

     Immediately upon the abolishment of the cemetery in the 15th century, all property rights of the Jewish community to the entire area became null and void; parcels of land located on the territory of the former cemetery or houses built on such lots became either State (or Crown) property or private property. Naturally, such development also applied to the lot owned by the Czech Insurance Company; presently, the respective lot is entered in the Land Register as the property of the Czech Insurance Company.

     However, property rights in the Czech Republic can be restricted in the interest of protecting cultural monuments. Precisely on such grounds, the Jewish Community in Prague, upon the request of its Chief Rabbi, has taken steps to ensure the legal protection of these and other preserved parts of the abolished cemetery within the zones unaffected by construction. In cooperation with the Jewish Museum in Prague, the Jewish Community immediately addressed the respective institutions, i. e. the Czech Insurance Company, the Czech Ministry of Culture, the Municipal Council of the Capital Prague, the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, the Monument Protection Authority, and the Archeology Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences in order to prevent the imminent destruction of the part of the cemetery discovered on the construction site of the Czech Insurance Company. The result of the ensuing complicated negotiations was the proposal to catalogue all the interconnected segments of the abolished cemetery (at the present time, most of those segments are not immediately endangered) in order to ensure their lasting protection against damage and/or destruction by declaring them a cultural monument.

     A separate issue within the entire problem area represented the question how to save the part of the cemetery located within the existing construction pit.

     The first possible scenario was to halt all construction activities and alter the respective construction project. The construction work performed so far on the respective construction site has been executed on the basis of a valid construction permit; therefore, the Czech Insurance Company would be entitled to receive a commensurate indemnification if it were forced to abandon its ongoing project. According to the Czech Insurance Company, interrupting the construction work and altering the project would entail a loss amounting to ten million US dollars; the Ministry of Culture (representing the Czech state) is unable to pay such an indemnification; it is conceivable that no one else would provide the Czech Insurance Company with such a sum.

     The second possible scenario was to exhume the bones and rebury them at a protected Jewish cemetery; besides irreversible damage to the respective section of the cemetery, accepting this scenario would create a dangerous precedent. Following this pattern - considering the lack of scruples on the part of some building contractors and the deficiency of the present Czech legislation in the field of protection of cultural monuments - could spell future destruction of further Jewish cemeteries which might still not revert to the Jewish Communities or whose existence is presently unknown.

     Under these circumstances, the Czech Insurance Company, the Ministry of Culture, and the Jewish Community in Prague lead by their effort to find a satisfactory solution to the problem concluded a trilateral agreement involving the following components:

1) The Ministry of Culture will declare the locality owned by the Czech Insurance Company and all other parts of the cemetery in its original extent a cultural monument;

2) The Czech Insurance Company will, under the supervision of the Chief Rabbinate, protect the graves against damage; it will lower the entire part of the burial ground (encased in concrete, without damaging any of the individual graves) to the bottom of the construction site; a separate consecrated space will be created there; this space will be accessible to visitors upon demand.

3)  The Czech Insurance Company and the Ministry of Culture will jointly establish the Ministry's contribution to cover a part of the cost of the entire operation.

     As a conclusion we can state that the graves located at the part of the cemetery discovered in the building pit remained intact. No bones were excavated and stored in 36 bags in a neighboring storehouse without guarding as Mr. Moshe Stern from London says in an article published on January 13, 2000 in the Jerusalem Post. On the contrary, activities of the Prague Jewish Community resulted in stopping the construction work and archaeological research above the graves' layer.

Efraim Sidon, Chief Rabbi of Prague and Land Rabbi
Jiri Danícek, Chairman of the Jewish Community in Prague

     Thank you for your interest regarding the history of Jewish inhabitancy in the Czech lands which characteristically has been truly multinational throughout the centuries.

     Let us assure you that we do understand and appreciate your concern to save Jewish historical heritage, which is also part of our country's culture.

     We would like to take this opportunity and express our hope that this letter will provide sufficient explanation of the historical and current aspects related to problem of the alleged destruction of an old Jewish burial ground in Vladislavova street in Prague by our company Ceska pojistovna. Mainly by explaining particular questions which could arise from lack of information.

     To understand the situation fully in its complexity, it is necessary to obtain a range of background information, which as we understand from your appeal is not available to you.

     Therefore, let us explain and inform you of further facts, which we sincerely hope will help you to create a better picture regarding the whole matter.

     We would also like to assure you that Ceska pojistovna's main concern was not only to comply with all Czech legal requirements but Ceska pojistovna has also paid a great attention to all moral and ethical norms prior to the consideration, reconstruction and completion of development of the first part of a new administrative building in Prague's Vladislavova street.

     The present situation is as follows: The construction of the new building has stopped and there is no archaeological research going on. We are expecting to receive a decision from the Czech Republic's Ministry of Culture whether the location of the former Jewish burial ground should be proclaimed as a cultural heritage site or not.

     During the past two years Ceska pojistovna has tried diligently to find a suitable solution for all interested parties. At the end of last year Ceska pojistovna, Czech archaeologists and the local Jewish Community held a meeting which resulted in a compromise satisfactory to all interested parties.

     The statement which was accepted by all interested parties states that the agreed solution seems to be the most suitable one, respecting the owner's rights and interests, the Jewish religion, and it also respects the requirements for the preservation of archaeological treasures as stated by Czech law. This document was signed in November 1999 by Mr. Milan Maderyc, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ceska pojistovna, Mr. Jiri Danicek, Chairman of Prague's Jewish Community, Mr. Karol Sidon, Chief Rabbi, and Mr. Ladislav Spacek, Director of Prague's Institute of National Heritage.

     Ceska pojistovna has done everything it possibly could to find a satisfactory solution to the problem. Ceska pojistovna also has to stress that the Czech Republic’s Ministry of Culture plays a very important role in this matter. Since February 1999 it has been conducting procedures as to whether the location formerly known as the "Jewish Garden" should be proclaimed as a cultural heritage site. Formal proceedings have not reached any conclusion yet, and unfortunately this extremely sensitive and complex situation is providing room for even greater complications.

     To understand the current situation it is very important to know some of the historical facts. The remains of the old Jewish burial ground, which were uncovered by a group of archaeologists prior to the commencement of the proposed development, dates back to the 13th century. This burial ground, possibly the first Jewish graveyard in the Czech lands, was called the "Jewish Garden" and was in use for two centuries until the period of Hussite wars. Then, as a result of a lack of maintenance, the place called the "Jewish Garden" became dilapidated.

     A new resting place for the deceased was established in the now world famous Jewish cemetery in Prague’s Old Town which is for the whole population of the Czech Republic a place of great historical importance. As a result of the new cemetery establishment, several generations of Jews gave up their affiliation to the original cemetery site and during the reign of the late Czech king Vladislav Jagellonsky they transferred the ownership of the land to the city council.

     In 1478 with the agreement of the Jewish Community the majority of the remains which had already been placed on top of each other were transferred to other Jewish cemeteries, mainly in Prague's Old Town. The land was divided into plots, which were bought by Prague residents who started to build on them. In exchange for the original location of the "Jewish Garden" Jewish people received many privileges and benefits from the king, which were previously held only by Christians. Some historical research suggests, that the Jewish Community received financial compensation for voluntary transfer of the "Jewish Garden".

     From the late 15th century onwards, the layout of Prague's historical centre remains undisturbed, however the location formerly known as the Jewish Garden has been redeveloped on numerous occasions. Only modern technological advances have allowed the recovery of any remains previously buried at this location.

     The present legal owner of the plot - whose owners, after the Jewish Community transferred the land to the town council in 15th century, changed throughout the centuries - is Ceska pojistovna, which has decided to build on it a modern building serving the needs of its international clientele.

     The building is architecturally planned in a way to become an integral part of the historical city centre. The present reconstruction, which involves further development of necessary technical facilities, underground parking and a theatre entrance, has commenced and continued as planned on a basis of valid planning permission.

     In accordance with local building directives, every new administrative building, which is built in the historical centre of Prague, must also comply with international building directives. These include certain building aspects such as underground areas serving not only as car parks but also housing the technical facilities of the building. 

     Under the current Czech legal system, prior to the commencement of the work underground it is necessary to employ a group of archaeologists whose job is to survey, find and remove valuable historical artifacts which are part of the history of nations settled in the Czech lands. 

     Surprisingly, results of the archaeological research on this site have shown that there are still remains of the original burial ground. This discovery differs from the information provided by historical documents.  However, the majority of graves were transferred to different cemeteries many centuries ago. Some of these cemeteries are still in use today.

     Representatives of Ceska pojistovna held numerous meetings with representatives of Prague's Jewish Community and with Czech archaeologists and offered acceptable, sensible and lawful solutions.

     Among the options was one offering to transfer remains from the site to the State Jewish Museum in Prague and it also offered to provide suitable premises in the new building to commemorate our ancestors and to exhibit valuable historical artifacts.

     In May 1999 representatives of Ceska pojistovna met with representatives of the United States Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad arranged by the US Embassy. Director of the United States Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad Mr. Michael Lewan agreed that providing such premises was an acceptable solution, which was similar to arrangements made elsewhere in the world.

     The latest concept agreed by Prague's Chief Rabbi Mr. Karol Sidon goes even further to respect the Jewish religion. The concept suggests the isolation of the complete block of earth, which according to archaeologists contains several layers of intact graves, by excavating below this level and then lowering the entire block containing the graves vertically down. The main building would be built above the level of the graves. The block containing the graves would therefore have only moved vertically simulating the natural process over the centuries.

     In conclusion, please, let us assure you that for our company these archaeological findings again confirm the multicultural historical continuity of Central Europe in general and Prague in particular, which deserves our honour and deepest respect. This has led us to pay great attention to finding the solution acceptable to all parties. We hope that a statement from the representatives of Prague's Jewish Community is sufficient guarantee that our company's approach is the most suitable one.

Yours Faithfully,
 

Predstavenstvo Ceska pojistovny a.s.
(The Board of Directors of Ceska pojistovna a.s.)

Webmaster's note: 
     The following letter was sent to Austria-Czech SIG on Feb. 23, 2000.  The letter is presented exactly as it was received, with no editing of content, syntax, spelling or construction.  Please read the news article that follows this letter.

URGENT   URGENT   URGENT   URGENT   URGENT   URGENT   URGENT   URGENT 
F A C T S about the OLD CEMETRIE IN PRAGUE 

The spurious reports about the Prague Jewish Cemetery are VERY CORRECT! 

This is an excert from the STATEMENT of the Prague jewish community: 
"No bones were excavated and stored in 36 bags in a neighboring 
storehouse without guarding as Mr. Moshe Stern from London says in an
article published on January 13, 2000 in the Jerusalem Post. On the 
contrary, activities of the Prague Jewish Community resulted in stopping 

the construction work and archaeological research above the graves' 
layer." 

THIS IS NOT TRUE! 
I personaly spoke to Mr. Ginsburg and to Mr. Stern and both of them are 
members in the "Committee for the Preservation of Jewish Cemetries in 
Europe", both of them have been in PRAGUE more then ones, and found 
hundreds of BONES in BOXES!!! 

TOMOROW - THURSDAY -- 24. February 2000 -- there will be a FUNERAL 
in PRAGUE for 130 BOXES, with hundreds of Bones, wich have been taken 
from the old cemetry in PRAGUE!!! 

This was accomplished by the large world-wide campaign of the "Committee 

for the Preservation of Jewish Cemetries in Europe" and with the 
pressure of the American Goverment. Since the Holocaust in Europe there 
hasn't been a distruction of a cemetry like this, in a civilized 
Country!!! From the Israeli Military a specialist is going to Prague to 
look after the bones and placing them "ready for burial". 

The "Committee for the Preservation of Jewish Cemetries in Europe" is a 
non profitable organisation who is looking to protect approx. 20'000 
Jewish Cemetries in Europe.   The bones will be buried again!!! 

THESE ARE FACTS, THAT SOME PEOPLE TRY TO DENIE. 

ANYONE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THIS SHOULD GO AND HAVE A LOOK IN PRAGUE ON 
THURSDAY AND SEE FOR THEM SELFS!! FROM WHERE COMES SUDDENLY 130 BOXES OF 
BONE?? 

THERE IS STILL A LOT OF WORK TO DO!!! PLEACE DON'T STAND BY!! 
REACT AND SEND FAXES TO PUT PRESSURE ON THE CZECH AMBASY in your 
Country and tell them that you'r concerned about what is happening in 
PRAGUE these days. This will help saving the remaining GRAVES at the 
site! 

The Prague Jewish Cemetery thread is NOT cut with this post YET"! 

BEST REGARDS 
Reuven Schijveschuurder 

Thursday February 24 1:43 PM ET

 Jews Blocked From Re-Burying Remains in Prague

 PRAGUE (Reuters) - Jewish demonstrators failed in a bid Thursday to re-bury remains uncovered by construction workers at the site of a 13th Century Jewish cemetery in the center of Prague.

 The group of several dozen Jews, many from Israel, North America and elsewhere in Europe, escorted a lorry filled with boxes of the remains to Vladislavova Street, where Czech insurance company Ceska Pojistovna has sought to build a parking garage and offices.

 A previous building already constructed over the cemetery site was torn down and the bones were uncovered last year during deeper digging for the car park.

 Pojistovna said in a statement it would stick to a written agreement with Czech authorities and the Jewish Community aiming to commemorate and protect the religious site without halting construction and increasing financial losses.

 Pojistovna said it could not allow the Jewish demonstrators into the site Thursday for safety reasons and the company objected to the “unauthorized demonstration” which it said was organized from abroad and was blocking traffic.

 “Ceska Pojistovna resolutely distances itself from such pressure tactics which abuse the public as hostages for the strengthening of negotiating positions, and whose only intent is to portray (Pojistovna) negatively in the media,” it said.

 The Jews said it was their religious duty to re-bury the bones at their original resting place, but the excavation site remained locked.

 In late afternoon rain, the Jews ended their protest for the day, but said they would return.

 "We have to stay here until the bones are buried,'' one of the Jewish leaders told Reuters at the site.

 The controversy at the site has drawn the attention of Jewish groups in Europe, Israel and the United States.

The Prague Jewish Community appreciates the interest with which so many Jewish institutions and individuals have expressed these days their concern regarding a construction project and a Jewish cemetery here in our city.  Apparently, word has gotten out that the cemetery in question is the historic old Jewish cemetery in the heart of the Jewish quarter. This is, however, not the case, the grave of the famous Rabbi Loew, or Maharal, is and will remain intact. Here we will attempt to set the record straight:

Some months ago, Ceska Pojistovna, Czech insurance company, began rebuilding its headquarters in the Nove Mesto quarter of Prague.  During the obligatory archaeological research the workmen found the traces below ground of a Jewish cemetery dating back to the fourteenth century.  While historians were well aware that this cemetery existed, they had long ago drawn the conclusion that its graves had been exhumed and relocated during the sixteenth century. Yet in 1999, we found that many of the graves remained--unknown to all for nearly six hundred years.

The Jewish Community of Prague immediately urged the Insurance Company to reconsider its building plans so that the graves could remain as they were. The firm hesitated, as this would mean additional costs and delay.  The PJC therefore started a process to name the site a historical protected monument and called for international support.  An office of the Czech Culture Ministry gave however green light to completion of the archaeological research which in practice would have meant exhumation of the graves before the process of the naming the site a historical monument would be completed. The PJC protested, the Chief Rabbi even called a demonstration that attracted several dozen people. The Minister of Culture Pavel Dostal then stopped the archaeological research and the process of naming the site still continues; it should take at least another 6 months. Meanwhile also the Insurance Company is respecting this decision and is waiting for the final result of the process. The PJC hopes that the site will be protected and the graves remain intact and the company will respectively change the project. The matter is currently still not resolved and under review by authorities. 

It has been particularly gratifying for the Prague Jewish Community to see how many friends have responded to this issue.  It shows a commonality of spirit that we very much appreciate.  The problem with information spread over the Internet, however, means that on occasion, information is not presented quite as correctly as it could be and could become even counterproductive.  This seems to have been one of those times. The good news is that the famous Old Jewish Cemetery of Prague, which was never involved in this issue, remains intact and open for pilgrims as well as for large public.

The Committee for the Preservation of Jewish Cemetries [sic]* in Europe
66 Fairholt Road, London N16 5HN
Tel: +44 181 806 1696 / 809 3154   Fax: 806 5911 / 800 0279

* Webmaster’s Note: The words “cemetery” and “cemeteries” are consistently misspelled in this document.  I shall make no further reference to this misspelling, as it will continue to appear as originally received.  Numerous other misspellings have been corrected.

PRESS RELEASE

Issued by the Committee for the Preservation of
Jewish Cemetries in Europe
 

Desecration of Prague's Oldest Jewish Cemetry

In view of misinformation recently appearing in the media regarding the events surrounding the desecration of the oldest Jewish Cemetry in Prague, the Committee for the Preservation of Jewish Cemetries in Europe wishes to clearly set out the principal developments that have led to the present crisis.

Early May 99:
Committee and Athra Kadisha alerted by Rabbi Sidon of danger to newly rediscovered cemetry in Prague

5th May:
Meeting in Prague with Mr. Jan Casl (Mayor of Prague), Rabbis Sidon, Representatives of Ceska Pojistovna, Rabbi E. Schlesinger (London) and Dr. B. Rosenberg (Zürich, Legal adviser to our Committee). The Mayor of Prague offered an alternative site for the car park. Meeting in Prague with Mr. Pavel Dostal (Minister of Culture) at wich he stated his intention to protect the cemetry as a historic monument.

August:
Alerted by Rabbis Sidon that Mr. Jan Kiegel (a deputy to Mr. Pavel Dostal) has authorized building work to go ahead-

August-September:
Contact with Mayor, international intervention, work stopped.

29th October:
Letter from Mr. Pavel Dotal with disturbing report (particularly, last paragraph).

October-Novermber:
Unsuccessful attempts to make contact with Rabbi Sidon.

30th November:
"Compromise" signed by Rabbi Sidon and Mr. Danicek (President of Jewish Community in Prague) proposing "to sink the graves ... and construct the planned underground garages on top of them".

Early December:
Committee eventually informed of agreement by Rabbi Sidon.

14th and 30th December:
Desecration of cemetery on site visits by members of Committee, contradicting Ceska Pojistovna's claim that the graves are being protected. Chief Rabbis of Israel, UK, France and Holland express their disapproval of the compromise signed in Prague.

5th Jan 00:
Meeting in Prague with Mr. Petr Javurek (Ceska Pojistovna), Rabbis Sidon, Jiri Danicek (President Prague Jewish Community), William Martin (US Embassy), Andelo Kunstavo (US Embassy), Rabbi Edgar Gluck (US Commission for the protection of America's Heritage Abroad), Rabbis E. Schlesinger, Dr. B. Rosenberg, Rabbi M. Herschaft, Mr. A. Ginsberg (all representing Committee for the Preservation of Jewish Cemetries in Europe). Unfortunately, no progress was made at this meeting with Ceska Pojistovna declaring their action to be perfectly legal and having Rabbi Sidon's approval.

A visit to the site before the meeting revealed that a large area of the cemetry had been excavated to a depth of 3-4 meters since first meeting in May 95. Twenty-five boxes containing bones which have been unearthed during the excavations, stored by Ceska Pojistovna of local archaeologists, in an adjoining building, despite the agreement that no graves would be disturbed.

Strenuous efforts by Dr. B. Fryshman of the Conference of Academicians for the Protection of Jewish Cemetries (NY), through diplomatic channels including almost daily contacts with Mr. William Martin (US Embassy, Prague), eventually succeeding in obtaining temporary freeze on all work on site.

17th Jan:
Site investigation by Rabbi M. M. Eckstein, representative of Chief Rabbi Lau, and Rabbi Refoel Rothschild, representative of Committee for the Preservation of Jewish Cemetries in Europe and Athra Kadisha, in presence of Dr. Zdenek Dragoum, a local archaeologist and Rabbi Sidon. This investigation revealed that several layers of graves remain on one section of the site, a fact confirmed by Dr. Dragoum. It was also confirmed that the Department of Anthropology is holding a large number of bones for investigations at the State Museum. Rabbi Herschaft of the Committee for the Preservation of Jewish Cemetries in Europe also visited the building where boxes of bones had been seen on his previous visit and noted that some of them had since been removed. Dr. Dragoum confirmed that bones from the cemetry have been unearthed and reburied in Prague on two occasions.

19th Jan:
Meeting at Czech Embassy in London, attended by Mr. Zdnek Gron, Mr. Mila Coupek, Rabbi A. Pinter, Rabbi Tzvi Gluck (Ohr Abraham-Europe) and Mr. Ginsberg. Joint statement issued expressing concern, requesting moratorium and calling for high-level meeting with Czech Minister of Culture.

23rd Jan:
Chief Rabbi Lau states in a letter to Rabbi Sidon that the higher level of the site is to "be considered a cemetry and may not be disturbed in any way". Regarding the lower level, further investigations are required before taking a halachic decision.

27th Jan:
Czech Department of Anthropology confirms having human bones of this cemetry for scientific investigation, despite efforts of the Jewish community through the help of Mr. W. Martin of the US Embassy in Prague, those bones are not being returned for reburial in accordance with Jewish Law and Tradition.

8th February:
Deadlock in crisis is leading to a series of Worldwide Demonstrations and Protest by the Jewish Community at the total lack of respect for Human and Religious Rights by the Czech Goverment and against their continuous refusal to discuss this matter and ways of solving this problem with representatives of the Orthodox Jewish Community.

Conclusions:

1. It is clear beyond the slightest shadow of doubt that the site that Ceska Pojistovna wishes to develop on Vladislavova Street is that of an ancient Jewish Cemetery that still contains human remains.

2. This fact is not questioned and has never been questioned by Ceska Pojistovna, the Czech Ministry of Culture or the local archaeological experts.

3. The claim that bones unearthed on the site are only animal bines is ridiculous and has never been made by anyone with reliable knowledge of the facts.

4. The claim that this Jewish Cemetery was "voluntarily abandoned at the end of the 15th Century" is ridiculous and shows ignorance of Jewish Law and practice as well as a total ignorance of Prague's Jewish history.

5. The Committee for the Preservation of Jewish Cemetries in Europe has never issued any e-mail pleas for the preservation of the cemetry, nor has ever made the claim that the famous Maharal of Prague is buried there.

6. The oldest known Jewish cemetry in Europe has been vandalized in the course of this construction project and is currently at risk of further desecration. The "compromise" agreed by Rabbi Sidon has been criticized by leading orthodox Rabbinical authorities worldwide as being against Hlacha (Jewish Law) and the Committee fails to understand how and why Rabbis Sidon and Prague's Jewish Community leaders can continue to take
the position they do. (This "compromise" is currently the main obstacle to a settlement of this crisis, sought by Orthodox Jewry, as well as by Ceska Pojistovna and the Czech Government.)

8th February '00:
Deadlock in Prague Jewish Cemetry Crisis Leading towards Worlwide Protest Demonstrations.
The Committee for the Preservation of Jewish Cemetries in Europe has issued a press release to combat misinformation, apparently put out by certain circles in Prague, regarding the desecration of Prague's oldest Jewish cemetry and reported in the local and international media.

The statement emphasizes the fact that no one with any knowledge of the situation in Prague, either at the Czech Ministry of Culture of Ceska Pojistovna has at any stage questioned that the site at VLADISLAVOVA STREET is a Jewish cemetery and still contains Jewish graves. This has also been confirmed by local archaeologists. The suggestion that all bones unearthed there are animal bones is ridiculous and is misleading the public. The suggestion made by a spokesman of Ceska Pojistovna that the cemetery "was voluntarily abandoned by Prague's Jewish community at the end of the 15th century" reveals a total ignorance of Jewish law and practice as well as a total ignorance of Prague's Jewish history.

The Committee further states, that the " compromise" signed by representatives of Prague's Jewish Community proposing "To sink the graves ... and construct the underground garages on top of them", has been criticized by leading rabbinical figures around teh world including the Chief Rabbis of Israel, the UK, France and Holland, as being against Jewish Law. The Committee says that it is this "compromise" of Rabbi Sidon (which has been widely and unanimously condemned by leading recognized Rabbinical figures all over the world) which is currently the main obstacle to finding a solution to this crisis and it cannot understand how and why Rabbi Sidon of Prague can continue to support this agreement in the face of universal Rabbinical opposition.

The crisis over Prague's recently rediscovered oldest Jewish Cemetery has now deepened, resulting in plans for worldwide protest demonstrations by orthodox Jews, including a protest outside the Czech Embassy in London on the 17th February and a mass prayer service at the site in Vladislavova Street in the center of Prague on Monday the 28th February.

On the 1st of March 00 there is planned for demonstrations by orthodox Jews outside the Czech Embassy in London, Brussels, New York, and Canada.

In spite of great efforts to find a compromise solution, particularly by Mr William Martin, of the US Embassy in Prague, who with great devotion and tireless efforts has been working continuously to arrange an acceptable solution between all the parties, meetings with representatives of Ceska Pojistovna, the Czech Republic's major insurance company, who wish to build an office block on the cemetery site, have so far failed to achieve a solution, mainly due to the complete ignorance of the Czech Ministry of Culture who have a key role in this matter.

The Committee for the Preservation of Jewish Cemetries in Europe and the council of academicians for the Protection of Jewish Cemetries, the two principal grounds involved in the campaign to protect the cemetery, have urged orthodox Jews to write to those responsible, appealing for a complete halt to all building plans on the cemetery site.

It has to be noted that with the help of Mr. Martin of the US Embassy in Prague, a stop has been made to further work on the site, but an official freeze from the Czech Ministry of Culture, has not been imposed, despite all diplomatic efforts.

Meanwhile, inspections of the site by Rabbi M. Eckstein, an expert emissary of
Chief Rabbi Lau and by Rabbi R. Rothschild of Athra Kadisha have revealed that at least two layers of graves have already been destroyed during the preparations for construction work, in spite of written undertakings by the Minister of Culture to respect the religious and historical nature of the site.

Local archaeologists confirmed that human bones from the cemetery are being held at the Department of Anthropology at the State Museum in Prague, for scientific investigations. Appeals by the Orthodox Jewish Community, with the devoted assistance of Mr. Martin, for their immediate return for reburial have so far gone unheeded.

A Spokesman for the Rabbinical Board of The Committee for the Preservation of Jewish Cemetries in Europe says "The protest will be a cry from the hearts of thousands of Orthodox Jews, who are pained at the desecration of their ancestors’ resting places who, after being persecuted and tortured in the Middle Ages, now face destruction in a modern, civilized and democratic world, and against the violation of Human and Religious Rights by the Czech Government (who now wish to join the European Union).

It is hoped that last minute attempts will result with the co-operation of the Czech Government with the worldwide Orthodox Jewish Community and a meeting between high-ranking Government officials and representatives of the Orthodox Jewish Community will finally reach to an acceptable solution to this crisis.

For further enquiries phone: Secretary: A. Ginsberg -  +44 7968 012 776

Written/read by: Rob Cameron
Date: 1/3/00
Copyright (c) 2000 Radio Prague (Vysilani do zahranici CRo)
 

 Israel's Chief Rabbi says work must stop on burial site

 Israel's Chief Rabbi has ruled that work must stop on an office block being built on the site of a 13th century Jewish burial ground in central Prague.  The Czech Republic's Chief Rabbi Karel Sidon said he had received a letter from Israel containing the Chief Rabbi's ruling, which forbade any further work on the site. The burial ground was rediscovered two years ago when the Ceska Pojistovna insurance company began digging foundations for an office block and underground car park. The site, believed to be the oldest Jewish burial ground in the country, was closed in the late 1400s, and its precise location had remained a mystery.

 ----------------------------------------------
 Forwarded by
 Tomas Lang, Nove Zamky/Slovakia Jewish Community
-----------------------------------------------------
Tomas Lang, Managing Director
NOVOTRADE Slovakia, sro /Ltd.
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PRAGUE (Reuters) - The Czech cabinet agreed on Wednesday to a compromise plan which allows for the construction of an office building over the site of a medieval Jewish cemetery while preserving the centuries old remains.

Plans by insurer Ceska Pojistovna to build its new headquarters over the 13th century burial site had sparked an outcry from Jewish groups around the world.

In a deal struck with the Prague Jewish Community and Pojistovna, the government agreed to contribute to a 60 million crown ($1.62 million) plan to alter the construction.

The government will pay up to 45 million crowns* to leave the 240 square meter cemetery site untouched. The foundations will be built around the site, which will be encased in concrete.
 
The cemetery had been buried below other buildings for centuries before bones were discovered when work started on the Pojistovna building last year.

"The government, led by efforts to find the best compromise, chose this solution, under which a part of the Jewish cemetery...will become a part of the Pojistovna building,'' Culture Minister Pavel Dostal told a news conference.

Rabbi Marc Schneier, leader of the North American Board of Rabbis which had asked the Czech government to find a compromise acceptable to Jews around the world, praised the decision.

``I would like to congratulate the Czech government and the Czech people for recognizing sacred interests over economic interests,'' Schneier told Reuters by telephone.

*($1.00 U.S. = 37.15 Czech Crown)