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For the first time, the Parliament of the Czech Republic will pay tribute later this year to the 129 Czech citizens recognized as “Righteous Among the Nations” by Yad Vashem for risking their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust.
The special event — hosted by First Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Patrik Nacher, a member of the Czech–Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group, and organized by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) and Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic (FJC) — is set to take place in Prague on November 9, coinciding with the 88th anniversary of Kristallnacht, or “Night of Broken Glass,” the violent state-sponsored pogrom across Nazi Germany that served as a prelude to the Holocaust.
Guests will include Czech lawmakers and government officials, diplomats, and Jewish community representatives.
CAM Executive Director of European Affairs Shannon Seban said, “At a time when antisemitism is once again rising across Europe, honoring the 129 Czech ‘Righteous Among the Nations’ is more than an act of remembrance — it is a call to courage. Their example reminds us that, even in the darkest moments, individuals can put humanity before indifference and act rather than remain silent.”
“By paying tribute to them in the Czech Parliament, we not only preserve their legacy, but also encourage the ‘Righteous’ of our own time — all those who refuse to remain passive and instead stand against antisemitism and hatred today,” she added.
The Czech Republic’s Jewish community has 3,000 officially registered members, and an estimated 10,000-20,000 people of Jewish origin live in the country.
It is generally thought of as one of the safest nations for Jews in modern-day Europe, although a 8.5% annual increase in antisemitic incidents was recorded in 2024 in the aftermath of the October 7th massacre in Israel.
In 2025, the Czech government adopted a new five-year National Strategy to Combat Antisemitism.
For additional information on the event, please contact Seban at: shannon@combatantisemitism.org
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