The latest news from Bardejov and the BJPC is here!
Bardejov - A Heritage Tour Destination
In December 2018, we had the pleasure of welcoming a group of young professionals from JEC MEOR Manhattan for a beautiful tour of the Jewish heritage in Bardejov. They were the very first group of their kind to visit the town. The tour was organized by JRoots , and we were honored to welcome their co-founder, Tzvi Sperber, as well as Rabbi Shmuel Lynn and Rabbi Yoni Spinka from MEOR.  
The tour started in the Town Square, where the group heard about the Jewish families that were living there before the deportations and were shown the location of the cellar in which seven Jews were hiding during the war. All tour photos by photographer Michaela Zolakova. Click to enlarge.
The group gathered outside the Bikur Cholim Synagogue before entering.
JRoots have taken thousands of people on various Jewish Heritage journeys throughout the world, and their flagship program is in Poland.

After a few months of being in touch with us, Tzvi Sperber, JRoots co-founder, came to Bardejov last October. Impressed with the town and its rich Jewish heritage, he convinced Rabbi Shmuel Lynn to extend MEOR’s Poland tour and be the first group of American young adults — who have no ancestry connection to the town — to visit Bardejov.
They were moved by the authenticity of the place.
Mr. Bogol showed the original old Torah (which is not kosher anymore). 
The group admires the old books in Bikur Cholim.
The group was amazed by the tour which lasted three hours. They were astonished by the knowledge and information that BJPC’s staff provided and by their passion for the Jewish cause. These young people showed great interest, and the dynamic rhythm of the tour and passionate explanations helped them forget the cold weather. Indeed, as expressed by Tzvi, “Bardejov gives a different aspect to both our Holocaust education and our possibility to delve deeper into Jewish heritage”.
The group arrives at the Jewish Suburbia.
Pavol Hudak explained the significance of the archeological excavations inside Beith Hamidrash.
The group was impressed by the many findings of artifacts and by the old documents that were recently discovered in the attic.
The organizers of the tour expressed their will to return to Bardejov and extend their stay to explore other Jewish sites in Eastern Slovakia.  
The group observes the inside of the Synagogue which was restored and opened to the public in 2017
Here are a few comments from the group's participants:
“Though the town of Bardejov is not a typical destination on such Holocaust trips, it is a noteworthy example of the diversity of Jewish life in Eastern Europe that flourished for centuries before the Holocaust took place. As evidenced by the town’s Main Square and its several abandoned synagogues, Bardejov thrived in no small part because of its Jewish population. This legacy must be preserved and taught.”
 
“The shuls we visited gave context to the destruction we witnessed in Poland, reminding us that life and light brimmed in these places now dark.”
“I have to be honest: when I learned we were going to Bardejov, Slovakia I was a little bit confused. I had never heard of the town, but from what I had seen of Tzvi I assumed there was some nugget of history that would be special. But I was completely blown away at what we saw. Seeing the shul, meeting Pavol (Hudak), and learning about the story there moved me to tears, both from joy and sadness. It’s too easy on a trip to Eastern Europe to lose faith in humanity, but it is people like Pavol and the rest of the committee members we met who tirelessly work to actualize the words “Never Forget” that help to remind us of the inextinguishable flame of human goodness. When I posted on social media about the experience a friend of mine from Texas messaged me saying that her family was from Bardejov; it really drove home that there are so many stories of the holocaust we have never heard of that are much closer to us than we could ever imagine. Visiting was a privilege I will never forget about”
The group visited the Bardejov Holocaust Memorial where the Star of David Monument and the Memorial Name Tablets are located
Bardejov in the Snow
This winter has been plentiful with rain and snow all over the world. Please enjoy pictures of ‘White Bardejov’ taken by Anna Humbert, our Manager of Operation in Bardejov.
Best wishes for 2019
This is our first Newsletter of 2019. We hope you all had a great Holiday Season and we wish you a successful 2019!
PLEASE SUPPORT US
Our mission is to preserve Bardejov’s Jewish Heritage, memorialize and honor Bardejov Holocaust victims, and conduct educational outreach to school and community groups to teach tolerance and diversity. The Bardejov Jewish Preservation Committee is not funded by any grants and depends solely on the support of generous individuals. 
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