Why Prague? Wednesday, 5/14/25

Why Prague? 

It's a fair question. 

You may have even been asked this very question by a curious friend, neighbor, or colleague. 

Perhaps you had an answer. 

Or a partial answer. 

Perhaps not. 

Perhaps the person asking the question was you. 

Perhaps you are reading this and still wondering. 

If you could've been here today, you wouldn't be wondering any more. 

Why Prague?

Because of Rabbi David Maxa, who opened the doors of his synagogue to welcome us, share his story, and help us understand better: Why Prague?

Rabbi Maxa, who shared about his experiences crisscrossing this region sowing the seeds of the resurgence of Jewish life here. 

Rabbi Maxa, who told us about his experiences at URJ Camp Kutz in New York where he, a young Jew from Czech, read from a scroll that had come from his home country after the destruction, just like the Torah Scrolls we touched at our sendoff Shabbat. 

Rabbi Maxa, who opened the ark in his synagogue and showed us that very same scroll which URJ Camp Kutz sent home to him when the camp had to shutter its doors and cease its operations. 

Why Prague? 

Because when we asked our kids who had family roots in this city and in this region four of them raised their hands. 

Because when we visited an ancient synagogue that has been turned into a memorial with walls covered by the nsames of the 80,000 Jews murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators, one of of those four was able to find the names of their family members written on those walls. 

Because that student allowed us all to join her in looking for those names. 

Because that student not only knew the words  of the Mourner's Kaddish by heart but was also willing to lead the prayer as the rest of us joined in.

Because of the group of non-Jewish teenagers from Czech who happened to be touring at that same synagogue at that same time, who stopped and listened respectfully to our prayer. 

Because of the Maharal of Prague (1512-1609), whose grave we touched, who created the Golem, that great protector of Jews, awoken by Emet (truth), and hidden for all eternity in the attic of the Altneuschul (the Old/ New Synagogue), the oldest still standing synagogue in Eastern Europe completed in 1270. 

Because sometimes tradition and belief are more important than facts and evidence. 

Because we could sit in that synagogue, that ancient place, and know exactly some of the words that were chanted and uttered all those centuries ago. 

Because if we listened closely we could almost hear their voices.

Because the Magen David, the Jewish Star, came to be associated with Jews only due to a 14th century gift from a local king of this area in gratitude for the Jews' friendship and support. 

Because of the hostage wall, where 58 portraits and one empty space (Edan Alexander) are respectfully and prominently displayed, undisturbed, free from vandalism, as a reminder that we too are human beings. 

Because of the widely held belief, disputed by some, that Hitler wanted to turn the Jewish Quarter in Prague into a museum that would show the world the now extinct people once known as The Jews.

Because witnessing the miraclous story of the Jewish people and being a part of it allows us to say the words Am Yisrael Chai with purpose and conviction.

This is why. 

And tomorrow we will surely add to this list as we journey toward, through, and back from Terezin.