The Prešov Jewish Museum was founded in 1928 as the first of its kind in Slovakia. The greatest share in its building and collection was taken by the chairman of the geological community Ing. Eugen Bárkány and Dr. Teodor Austerlitz, son of the famous Prešov rabbi. Thanks to them it was possible to collect about 300 objects originating from Slovakia, numerous donations from abroad. They also acquired adequate premises in the so-called Kumšt water bastion, where the museum began to operate in 1931. During the war, its activities were stopped and after the war there was no interest in its restoration, while the collections were beginning to deteriorate. Therefore E. Bárkány arranged for their storage in the State Jewish Museum in Prague, where they were kept until the dissolution of the Czechoslovakia.
Photo: OOCR Region Šariš, Dugas photo
