LEDEČ NAD SÁZAVOU JEWISH QUARTER

The first written record of Jews in Ledeč nad Sázavou dates back to 1601, when a Jewish cemetery was established, but they are assumed to have been resident before 1522. Since the beginning of the 17th century, the Jewish community had its own school. Until the end of the 19th century, a rabbi from nearby Golčův Jeníkov administered all services. A turning point was an occurrence known as the Hilsner Affair, when even in Ledeč the Jews encountered violence. Before the end of the 19th century there were almost two hundred Jewish inhabitants in Ledeč, but in 1930 there were only thirty-five. The greatest oppression came during World War II, which resulted in the deportation of Jews. Nobody returned.

Photo: archive of Vysočina Tourism