In the first half of November 2008, the NFOH held its traditional Beneficiary Concert in the cozy setting of Baráčnická rychta in Prague’s Malá Strana. In the opening part of the evening, the Slovak band Pressburger Klezmer Band presented their high-quality klezmer repertoire, featuring both traditional and lesser-known Jewish melodies. Following a short intermission after the Bratislava group’s final piece, a raffle full of valuable and attractive prizes was drawn to the delight of all winners. We express our gratitude to the Jewish Museum in Prague for donating Jewish calendars to the raffle. After drawing the final prize, our host Ester Janečková introduced the second band to the stage: the Romani group Bengas. From their very first notes, the Prague ensemble got many audience members up on their feet. We extend our sincere thanks to both bands for their outstanding performances.
The Foundation for Holocaust Victims extends its gratitude to the donors and sponsors whose support made this Beneficiary Concert possible. We thank the companies OHL ŽS a.s. and Genesia s.r.o., as well as Taťjana Pelíšková, member of the NFOH Board of Directors, for her steadfast moral support and valuable guidance, and Dan Jarkulisch for designing the event poster. A special note of deep gratitude goes to Ester Janečková, who generously volunteered to host the evening, contributing significantly to its smooth and pleasant atmosphere and brightening both the stage and the hall. We also offer our deep appreciation to the NFOH volunteers, whose dedication ensured seamless event logistics: our loyal volunteer Šimon Krýsl, Zuzana Nováková, students Šimon Erlich, Adéla Haluzová, Denisa Horová, and Barbara Pešlová from the School of International and Public Relations, and their faculty advisor Mgr. Hana Přikrylová.
Throughout the evening, joyful and danceable melodies of klezmer and Romani music filled the hall. Guests danced, celebrated, enjoyed wine and beer, and joined NFOH board members and staff in drawing winning raffle tickets. The Foundation for Holocaust Victims warmly thanks everyone who attended, supported our cause, and created a memorable atmosphere. Held under the auspices of Minister Džamila Stehlíková, the concert raised 40,713 CZK, which will be dedicated to supporting projects across the Foundation’s Care, Remembrance, Future, and Restoration programs.
