Jewish History in Uhříněves near Prague

Written by Hugo Gold in 1934

Compiled by Jaroslav Polak-Rokycana, Prague

Since ancient times the Jewish community in Uhříněves was one of the largest in the Prague neighborhood. There are no old documents or registry books for this community. The current registrar Mr. Oskar Rezek has documentation from 1838. The oldest record in the community is from 1786; however the local cemetery has tombstones from 1730, and the local older members of the community are certain that this was not the first or the oldest Jewish graveyard in the area.

Until 1847 the Jews in Uhříněves used to get together for praying in a private house build in 1810. After 1848, due to constant growing, the Jewish community started to think of building a dignified synagogue in the house #70 and for this reason they started with public collections.

This synagogue was described by Ant. Semansky in his Memoirs of Town Uhříněves (p.74) as following: The meeting place for prayers consists of 48 seats for men and 27 seats for women; next to it there is teacher's or Cantor's quarter consisting of 2 rooms and a kitchen. The upstairs has a meeting room, hall and attic.

With establishing the new land books (1818), the owner's right for seats was inserted into a special book in the synagogue together with the obligation to contribute a certain amount for maintenance. For example, in 1862, Josef Bysicky bought a male seat #1 and woman seat #2 for 50 Zl and secured contribution of 2 Zl a year for the synagogue maintenance.

In 1863, Jakub Beykovský bought male seat #2-9 and female seat #3 for 94 Zl 10kr and secured contribution for maintenance of synagogue on those seats with a sum of 3 Zl per year.

Uhříněves Jewish Society, according to the contract dated October 1, 1847, bought the property for the Synagogue for 90 Zl from the Uhříněves Lords. According to the same contract the society was also obligated to pay a rent of 30 Zl silver per year, property taxes -equivalent each 10 years from the originally paid amount of 90 Zl......., 4 Zl 30 kr silver to pay in case of cancelation or to pay 5% of Synagogue laudemium.

The Synagogue had also a school with public rights for teaching German language. For some unknown reasons the school was closed in 1887 by the school committee, however, at some point it was opened again - the date is not known, and stayed open till 1896, when it was definitely closed due to national unrest and fights for Czech language rights. Already in 1893 a Rabbi appointed by the local community was teaching Jewish Religion at local Czech schools.

The following communities became associated with the Jewish Community in Uhříněves:

A smaller Synagogue existed also in Řičany since 1890. Many good teachers and Rabbis worked in both schools and Synagogues, many of them for a number of years. The Rabbi Daniel Kohn passed away in 1892 after 30 years of dedication to school and the synagogue. After that many other followed: Natan Reitler (8years), Josef Freund (10 years), J.Samec (approx 3 years), Naftali Koch (about 6 years), Emanuel Urbach was here for 5 years until his death; From 1916 to 1919 rabbi Zikm Schrecker commuted here from Prague.

The Uhříněves community was always in the hands of few oldest families which contributed to the development and enhancement of the community. Foundation was established in memory of Josef Rezek, the first head of the community, 1912 - 1919. Moric Kraus (1908 - 1912), Gustav popper, Daniel Popper (1884).

Great merit belongs to well-known philanthropist Josef Beykovský, former lessee of estate at Pitkovice. From 1902 - 1908 the chairman was Leopold Ascher. Oskar Rezek becomes a chairman of Jewish community in 1919, his assistant Jindrich Polacek reads prayers during holidays in the meeting house in Uhříněves and from there he also manages all affairs of the community. The treasurer of the community was Gust. Popper, committee members: Edvard Vantoch, Emanuel Mendl (1884 - 1893), S. Brod, Bedrich Adler.

Uhříněves also had an old charity with chairman Em Mendl in 1893, a very enthusiastic member Adolf Freund, Em. Mendl, Daniel Popper and Ad. Freund.

Later additional gentlemen joined the committee - Vilem Weisskopfl, Karel Beck, Řičany, Jindrich Strasnov, Ludvik Kolben, Jindr. Kraus, Karel Eisler and Otto Vantoch.

German community in Uhříněves had about 45 members, 42 of them paid taxes: income and expenses per year approx.6000 Kc.

Many old documents could be obtained from Lichtenstein Estate and archive in Olomouc, since U. as well as Řičany used to be a part of the Lichtenstein estate. It would be reasonable to search local archive as well, but unfortunately, it is not organized well due to lack of available space and it's not approachable.

Some of the information was obtained thanks to the archivist of Uhříněves Herm. Sedlacek.

Czech records from Hugo Gold. Translated November 2013 by Dagmar Fuchsova-US.

Pitkovice farm house near Uhrineves before 1934
Pitkovice farm house near Uhrineves 1939 and 1996

"Hanna Fuchsova.

Hanna Renee Elsner born 26 January 1926 in Pitkovice, survived Terezin with her father Dr. Adolf Elsner. She married 15 Oct 1944 Jiri Fuchs in Terezin before being released from the camp and died in Prague 16 April 2018."