The Eastern Slovakia Jewish Heritage tour

Our day will begin at the Orthodox Synagogue on Puškinova Street in Košice. As we approach this beautiful 1927 building, we'll feel the weight of its history. This synagogue is still an active center for the local Jewish community. Inside, we'll also find the Ľudovít Feld Cultural Center. I find Feld's story incredibly moving; he was an artist who survived Auschwitz because Josef Mengele wanted him to paint and draw. The work we see here offers a poignant glimpse into his life and the rich artistic heritage of the region. After taking it all in, we'll get on the road, heading north to Prešov. The drive should take us about 45 minutes.

Our next destination is Prešov, a city once so prominent in Jewish life that it was known as the "Jerusalem of Slovakia." We'll head straight for the magnificent Prešov Orthodox Synagogue, built in 1898. I think you'll agree it’s one of the most beautiful in Europe. Inside, we'll explore the Barkany Judaica Collection, a fascinating array of Jewish religious objects housed in the women’s gallery. As we walk around the synagogue, we'll be standing in a place that was once the heart of a vibrant Jewish quarter. After our visit, we'll take a well-deserved break for lunch in Prešov's historic center.

Afternoon: Bardejov's UNESCO Heritage Refreshed, we'll drive about an hour to our main destination: Bardejov. This town's Jewish heritage sites are so significant that they’ve been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our first stop in town will be the unique Jewish Suburbia just outside the old city walls. This historical complex includes the Old Synagogue, a study house, and a mikvah, all of which tell the story of a community that was historically not allowed to live inside the town's center. We'll also visit the Holocaust Memorial in the garden, where over 3,000 names from Bardejov are listed by family—I find this part of the visit to be particularly powerful and heartbreaking. Afterward, we'll make our way toward the town center to see the Bikur Cholim Synagogue on Kláštorská Street, a well-preserved pre-war building from 1929.

Optional Stop: Sabinov and the Silver Screen Now, if we have some spare time on our way back to Košice, I suggest we make a brief, but special, final stop in Sabinov. This small town is famous for one reason: it was the filming location for the 1965 Oscar-winning film The Shop on Main Street. The movie is a tragic and important story about the "Aryanization" of Jewish property during the war. To commemorate the film and its powerful message, a unique bronze statue of an Oscar holding a button has been placed in the town center. I think it's a poignant and meaningful tribute. From Sabinov, it’s a quick 60 -minute drive back to Košice. We will have covered a lot of ground and explored some truly unforgettable stories and sites of Jewish life in Eastern Slovakia.