Czech Jewish Community Launches Billboard Campaign Thanking Gvt. For Supporting Israel

NEW YORK (VINnews) — The Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Prague in the Czech Republic launched a new nationwide billboard campaign in mid-December titled “Israel Says Thank You 2.0.” Symbolically, it began at the start of the Hanukkah holiday. The initiative aims to publicly thank the Czech Republic and its citizens for their long-standing and outspoken support of Israel at a time when the country is facing terrorist attacks and growing international isolation.

The campaign recalls the Czech Republic’s stance following October 7, 2023. At that time, the Czech Republic was one of the most vocal European countries to openly stand by Israel. Against the backdrop of more restrained or critical positions taken by parts of the international community, this gesture was, according to the organizers, of strong moral and symbolic significance.

“Aggression has never been in Israel’s DNA. Our wish is to live in peace also, because it is not anonymous soldiers who go to war against terrorists, but our sons and daughters,” the Jewish Community Center in Prague noted in an official statement about the campaign. According to the center, this human dimension of the conflict is often overlooked in public debate.

According to the organizers, Jewish communities in Europe are facing increasing manifestations of antisemitism, ranging from verbal attacks to physical threats. Leaders of the Jewish community in Prague emphasize that the fact that the Czech Republic remains a safe space and a reliable ally is extremely important.

“The support of the Czech Republic gives the Jewish community in the Czech Republic and the Israeli community in Prague a sense of security and dignity, in stark contrast to the atmosphere of intimidation developing in other parts of Europe,” said the Jewish Cultural Center in Prague. The billboard campaign is also supported by the advertising agencies AdSight and Maus, which provided space for images expressing gratitude to the Czech Republic.