The synagogue in Žatec, along with the rabbi's house, has opened to the public after reconstruction

Žatec (Lounsko) - Today, the synagogue and the adjacent rabbi's house in Žatec were opened to the public, featuring a permanent exhibition dedicated to the history of Jews in the region. For the restoration of the second largest Jewish building in the Czech Republic, its owner Daniel Černý received the Patrimonium pro futuro award from the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ). Through a prayer at the end of the ceremonial opening to the public, on the 152nd anniversary of its consecration in 1872, Chief Rabbi Karol Sidon wished that the synagogue would serve good purposes.

The building in the city center, which has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since last year due to hop-growing monuments, has stained glass windows, a new facade, furnishings, and three gilded David stars on the domes. The synagogue once belonged to Žatec, and Černý purchased it at an auction in 2012 for a starting price of 3.8 million crowns. "I do not regret making that decision. First, we carried out rescue work to prevent water from coming in, we removed 50 truckloads of rubbish, and we started organizing small concerts and screenings. Four years ago, we succeeded in obtaining funding for the preservation of UNESCO monuments, which allowed us to begin a major reconstruction," Černý told ČTK.

Žatec Mayor Radim Laibl (ANO) stated that the house rose from the ashes, and its rescue also saved a huge piece of Žatec's history. The total budget for the project was nearly 56 million crowns, with funding from the European Union covering 85 percent of the costs. Small donors, the city, and the Ústí Region also contributed. A number of experts participated in preparing the exhibition, which includes an interactive map of the Jewish settlement in the city. Copies of archival documents are accompanied by texts in Czech, English, and German, and a time-lapse video of the monument's rescue has also been created.

The efforts leading to the opening of the synagogue were acknowledged, among others, by Israeli Ambassador Anna Azari. "We are at a place that the 20th century did not favor; the Nazis burned down the synagogue, and the communists turned it into a storage facility. The synagogue is a place of meeting, and its rescuers have also contributed to the revival of regional history. This is especially important today, as we are witnessing a rise in barbaric antisemitism in Europe following Hamas's attack on Israel," she stated.

Hundreds of people squeezed into the synagogue today, including supporters of Černý, locals, and people from the surroundings. "We love it when culture begins to revive again, especially here in our locality, where the Jewish-Czech-German community lived for centuries. I remember the synagogue from the time when we came here for hops and various rock parties; back then, you had to sneak in through a window. We saw the horrors left over from the communist era, so I am happy that this was successful and that so many people came today," said Miloš Zelenka from Chomutov to ČTK.

Concerts and cultural events are planned in the synagogue, and an exhibition by painter František Dvořák was opened today in the rabbi's house. A charity auction of art works will take place on Friday, with the proceeds designated to support the operation of both buildings.