Besides the natural beauty of the Moravian region, Třebíč is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it contains the last standing Jewish ghetto in all of Europe! A ghetto is the part of a European city in which Jews were forced to live from the Middle Ages up through the 20th century in some cases. Ghettos were separate from the regular city's life, and conditions were usually much worse. The situation historically in Třebíč was slightly better for Czech Jews because there was some rapport and business relations between the Jews and Gentiles.
Over 4000 Jews lived in the small town at the start of World War II, but after the German Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia, only 10 Jews remained of the population. The rest were subject to the Holocaust, and survivors did not return to the city. Today, however, the population is very proud of its Jewish heritage; and the city has become somewhat of a tourist destination.
Our teacher, a rabbi, took us on a guided tour of the Jewish ghetto to learn more about the structure and daily life of Jewish in Central Europe. After a hearty lunch at a Czech restaurant, we visited the Jewish cemetery to learn more about the history of Třebíč Jews. It is interesting to note that many Holocaust victims were later memorialized here even though their remains were not recovered. Also, many of the graves have been "vandalized," as the family members returned and scratch any German language or references from their family tombstones and graves.
Overall, it was an educational experience, but it was certainly a long day in the blustery Moravian cold. Next weekend, I will be taking a 3-day trip to the South of Bohemia with my history course to explore the towns of Cesky Krumlov, Tabor, and Trebon!
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