In June 2021, a conference was held in preparation for the establishment of the Moravian Holocaust Documentation Centre, at Villa Tugendhat in Brno. Historians, professionals and documenters were among the participants.

In the photo Ms. Eva Lustig (daughter of Professor Arnosht Lustig) together with the center's director, Mr. Martin Reiner, and Ms. Rachel Alon-Margalit.

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This year, despite the coronavirus that has hit the world, the program has grown. Participated two classes from the Branco Weiss chain in Israel, Mazkeret Batya and Meitar, and two classes from the Czech Republic, one from Pzibor and the other from Dobrushka.

The program was updated and was online only. This did not prevent students in both countries from getting to know each other intimately and socially, and also learn about culture (similarities and differences), virtually touring each country (geography), learning about the shared history of the two countries, and learning a few important words or phrases in each other's language. 

At the end of June, all the students received final certificates and there was a summary lesson with the participation of the teachers and principals of the schools in Israel and the Czech Republic. Rachel Alon-Margalit, the program's initiator, is proud to congratulate the staff of teachers and graduates of the second cohort of the Joe Alon Connection Program.

Good Luck next cohort!

A film by Krista Gerloff

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Giora Rosen who has been breathing Czech culture all his life, gave a lecture in Kibbutz Sarid in April 2021. Giora is the son of the late Hanan Rosen, who had unique ties to the Czech Republic.

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One grant is for the first Czech school in Israel, designated for the community of Czech mothers and fathers who married Israeli partners and decided to establish a career and family in Israel. The school was founded in order to teach the Czech language, culture and history, and takes place within the formal educational systems.

The second grant is for the first class of the Joe Alon Connection Program, designated for 10th grade students from Israel and the Czech Republic. More information about the program on the Facebook page here.

In December 2019, a student delegation from the Czech Republic visited Israel. Twenty Czech boys and girls met 20 Israeli students, stayed in their homes and traveled together all over the country. Very special relationships have been formed.

Please check out the tour on the program here and in this article.

In June 2020, the Israeli delegation was scheduled to study in Prague, Ostrava and Příbor. The future tour was postponed because of the Corona Virus pandemic.

The Joe Alon Connection program includes 20 students from CR and 20 from Israel. Rachel Alon-Margalit visited the school and met with the students and staff. The Czech delegation will arrive to Israel at the beginning of December 2019, for a 6 day tour.

The Placzek boys: between four continents Rachel Alon-Margalit spoke of her father: Israeli pilot Colonel Joe Alon (Placzek), and uncle David Placzek, former resident of Karlovy Vari who's life story became a book. David and Joe were born in Palestine in the early 1920's, to their German Mother Tekla, and Czech father Vitezslav, who were young Zionist pioneers. in a course of 100 years the two brothers will witness first hand the goodness of mankind, the evil of mankind, the horrors of war and the glory of freedom and independence. The love for a woman, dedication to an idea, a forceful and brave recovery and some very interesting twists of fate.