Jewish Museum in Prague Joins Effort to Locate Books Looted by Nazis

The Jewish Museum in Prague has announced its participation in the international "Library of Lost Books" project, which aims to track down thousands of books that were looted by the Nazis from the Higher Institute for Jewish Studies in Berlin during World War II. The institute was one of the world's most important Jewish libraries before the war, and its collection was seized by the Nazis in 1942.

The museum is calling on the public to assist in the effort to locate the stolen books, which were part of a significant Jewish library. The "Library of Lost Books" project is an international collaboration working to recover the lost volumes and return them to their rightful place.

Why this matters: The looting of cultural artifacts and libraries during World War II represents a devastating loss of history and heritage. Efforts like the "Library of Lost Books" project are crucial for preserving the memory of these important collections and ensuring that the stolen items are returned to their rightful owners or institutions.

The Jewish Museum in Prague's involvement in this project underscores the ongoing commitment to rectifying the cultural losses inflicted during the Nazi era. By inviting the public to contribute to the search, the museum hopes to raise awareness about the stolen books and increase the chances of their recovery.

Key Takeaways

• Prague's Jewish Museum joins "Library of Lost Books" project to track Nazi-looted books.
• The looted books were from the Higher Institute for Jewish Studies in Berlin.
• The project aims to recover and return the stolen books to their rightful owners.
• Looting of cultural artifacts during WWII led to devastating loss of history and heritage.
• The public is invited to assist in the search for the stolen books.