Please, support this project which aim is to raise finance needed for renovation of the Jewish museum in Tekovské Lužany and for renovation of both Jewish cemeteries in the village!
Author: OZ HATIKVA
Tekovské Lužany, Nitriansky kraj, Slovensko
All or nothing. Project finished on Dec 9, 2018 at 17:36.
Tekovské Lužany is one of many south Slovak villages where a continuity of development has been stopped due to tragic historical events that occurred in 1940s. Neighbourly relations of three former municipalities had been disrupted by war and post-war events. The first group of people which was affected and de facto destroyed by those events was the numerous Jewish community.
Jews belonged to a significant part of the population in Tekovské Lužany until 1944. Both, the effort to restore the Jewish monuments in Tekovské Lužany and the gathering of information about the local Jewish community have in Tekovské Lužany an honourable history of more than 30 years. A man of great merit in this effort is Mr. Štefan Šebo from Tekovské Lužany who endeavoured to create an admirable chain of cooperation that led to restoration of the Jewish cemetery in 2002. In 2005, a memorial to the Shoah victims was set up in the Jewish cemetery.
The Jewish museum in Tekovské Lužany was ceremoniously opened on September 13th, 2009. The museum is housed in a building that served until the World War II as a beit midrash. A Jewish synagogue (beit ha-kneset) was located near this building, but it was destroyed during the World War II.
This project of renovation of the Jewish museum in Tekovské Lužany arose from a perfect esteem towards all rewarding activities that have already been done with the aim of active approach to history of the Jewish community. Another important incentive and valid reason for renovation is the current state of the museum which can hardly be termed optimal and appropriate to the mission of this institution and remarkable historical sight.
The target amount will be used for interior and exterior repairs of the former beit midrash. The restored space will be partially used for collection and displaying of the artefacts related to former Jewish presence in the village. It will become ‘an open book’ that will authentically tell the story of the Jewish pre-war life in Tekovské Lužany.
The exposition installed at chosen exterior places will focus on the tragedy that unfortunately ended with irretrievable disruption of the peaceful coexistence of Jewish and non-Jewish population and with the destruction of the Jewish community (not only) in Tekovské Lužany. For that purpose, it is necessary to adjust the wooden extension behind the building and make few more necessary adjustments in the museum’s grounds.
Another use of the restored places is connected with organizing meetings on the occasion of some Jewish feasts and holidays, memorial meetings, meetings with descendants of the Jewish people who at one time lived in Tekovské Lužany then also organizing of events and lectures focused on the Jewish culture, history, language, modern state Israel, etc.
It will include activities that will be markedly helping in natural overcoming and respecting cultural and other differences. It will also help in reducing prejudices. Of course, the precondition for this lies in acquiring of knowledge and in support of educational activities.
Renovation of both Jewish cemeteries in the village is a part of the project, as well. The most significant planned step is a construction of a new memorial with names from stolen or for a different reason missing matzevot (tombstones).
Dear supporters and sympathizers!
Please, support this important effort with financial CONTRIBUTION and SHARING. Contribute to the revival of collective memory, construction of a democratic, plural, tolerant society, and effort "to dress the world in the silky softness of peace"!
Thank you very much for your support!
Comments