Unprecedented floods have caused enormous damage in the Czech Republic and throughout Central and Eastern Europe. The cost of the damage to Jewish sites and the Jewish museum in Prague stands at $1.4 million. In addition to the terrible cost of repairing and rebuilding, many ongoing vital services and programs provided by the Prague Jewish community are in jeopardy. These include programs for Jewish elderly and the care and protection of 181 Jewish cemeteries throughout the country.

In this New Year of 5763, we must maintain hope and turn that hope into action as an important expression of our respect for the past and our faith in the future. By literally engaging in Tikkun Olam (both the physical and spiritual repair of the world), we can repair this damage one stone, one brick, one building at a time. May the spiritual repair which we are all seeking come in part as a result of a physical act taken with confidence, with understanding and with compassion.

I founded The Czech Heritage Action Initiative to help preserve the nearly 400 Jewish cemeteries of the Czech Republic and to assist the re-emerging Czech Jewish communities on their path of renewal and growth. In the aftermath of this crisis, we are working in close cooperation with the Prague Jewish Community and the Project Judaica Foundation in the official relief effort.

The Prague Jewish Community and Jewish Museum are appealing to Jews around the world and all people who appreciate the importance and beauty of Jewish Prague to support our effort to save Prague's Jewish treasures. Tax deductible donations may be made by mail:

Checks may be written to:

Project Judaica Inc.
Please write "Prague Flood" in the "memo" area of your check and mail it to:
Czech Heritage Action Initiative
P O Box 516
Deerfield, IL 60015

The Project Judaica Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 organization. Contributions are fully tax-deductible and all donors will receive a tax receipt by mail from the Project Judaica Foundation and an acknowledgement from the Jewish community of Prague and the Czech Heritage Action Initiative.

100% of all contributions sent by mail will go directly to the Jewish Community of Prague.

To make a secure on-line donation, please Click Here

. When donating on-line, please write CHAI in the "additional information" space on the form.

For updated information on the flood and its aftermath, please see the Czech Heritage Action Initiative Flood Information Page.  Also, please see the Official Press Release and an important message from Mark Talisman, President of the Project Judaica Foundation.

Please join us today and help save these Jewish treasures in the Czech Republic.

Thank you in advance,
Lisa Feder