for Jewish History
Bat El Institute
for Jewish History
Education in Jewish history should make an impact by renewing understanding, inspiring awareness, and confronting antisemitism in today’s world.
The Bat El Institute for Jewish History was founded by historians and educators concerned with the rise of antisemitism and the way Jewish history and the Holocaust are often presented in overly general terms, leaving the public disconnected from their true reality.
By focusing on Czech Jewish heritage and the story of Terezín, the Institute seeks to renew Holocaust education and Jewish history so that it is authentic, accessible, and capable of creating real impact.
We believe that the narrative of the Holocaust has become too general and empty of real meaning. As antisemitism grows stronger, it is increasingly urgent to speak about it honestly and realistically, without simplification or clichés.
For us, Terezín holds the key to renewing understanding of the Holocaust — revealing how Nazi deception and propaganda manipulated both victims and the outside world. By studying Terezín as a model of orchestrated illusion, we expose how the same patterns of distortion and hatred continue to reappear today.
Through rigorous research, authentic testimonies, and human-centered storytelling, the Bat El Institute seeks to inspire a renewed, truthful, and deeply human engagement with the Holocaust — ensuring that the lessons of Terezín continue to shape moral awareness and responsibility in the 21st century.
In recent decades, the Holocaust has often become a “generalized” topic — reduced to technical data and brief summaries. Furgermore, Holocaust education has been shaped by political narratives, nationalism, and Soviet propaganda, both in the past and in the modern era. As a result, the public often perceives the Holocaust as a distant and exhausted subject — something already explained, with little left to learn or understand.
Yet as antisemitism grows worldwide, the need for new research and a contemporary, honest approach to Holocaust education becomes ever more urgent. We believe that Terezín holds the key to renewing understanding of the Holocaust by revealing how Nazi deception, propaganda, and the machinery of lies were used to manipulate both victims and the outside world. By studying Terezín as a model of orchestrated illusion, we expose how similar patterns of distortion and hatred continue to reappear today.
The Institute works with deep respect for academic scholarship, while also drawing upon sources and testimonies that traditional academia has often overlooked. We believe that reconnecting these authentic voices to the broader public can restore the moral and emotional depth that Holocaust education urgently needs.
Over the past fifteen years, we have conducted more than thirty interviews with survivors and witnesses connected to the Terezín Ghetto. These conversations reveal the daily realities of life in Terezín — insights that go far beyond the established historical narrative. Thanks to our in-depth understanding of Terezín’s history, we have been able to document unique perspectives and details. Most of the recordings have not yet been publicly presented, and we are currently seeking partners to help us preserve, analyze, and share this material with wider audiences.
Over the past fifteen years, we have conducted more than thirty interviews with survivors and witnesses connected to the Terezín Ghetto. These conversations reveal the daily realities of life in Terezín — insights that go far beyond the established historical narrative. Thanks to our in-depth understanding of Terezín’s history, we have been able to document unique perspectives and details. Most of the recordings have not yet been publicly presented, and we are currently seeking partners to help us preserve, analyze, and share this material with wider audiences.
Among those whose stories we have explored are thes son of Benjamin Murmelstein, son of the last Elder of the Terezín Ghetto — a figure both tragic and complex. Murmelstein was forced by the Nazis to act as a liaison with the Jewish community and even compelled to instruct Adolf Eichmann about Jewish society. His story, and those of his family, shed light on the moral dilemmas and impossible choices faced by Jewish leaders under Nazi rule, revealing Terezín as a place not only of suffering but also of profound human complexity.
Pavel Batel's Interview wih Wolf Murmelstein.
Among those whose stories we have explored are thes son of Benjamin Murmelstein, son of the last Elder of the Terezín Ghetto — a figure both tragic and complex. Murmelstein was forced by the Nazis to act as a liaison with the Jewish community and even compelled to instruct Adolf Eichmann about Jewish society. His story, and those of his family, shed light on the moral dilemmas and impossible choices faced by Jewish leaders under Nazi rule, revealing Terezín as a place not only of suffering but also of profound human complexity.
- Preserve the memory of the Terezín Ghetto and Czech Jewish heritage.We safeguard the stories, documents, and testimonies that illuminate the lives of Czech Jews and the history of the Terezín Ghetto. Through collecting survivor testimonies, digital archiving, and educational lectures, we ensure that this memory remains a living part of our shared cultural consciousness.
- Promote Jewish history and cultural heritage through publications, lectures, educational programs, and social media.We seek to make Jewish history and cultural heritage accessible and engaging to a wider public. Through publications, lectures, and online content, we plan to connect historical research with contemporary audiences and highlight the richness of Jewish life in Czech and European contexts.
- Educate the public about antisemitism, its historical roots and contemporary manifestations, and raise awareness of its dangers to democratic society.We intend to raise awareness about antisemitism—its historical roots and current forms—and the threats it poses to democratic society. By organizing public discussions, educational programs, and digital campaigns, we aim to encourage understanding, empathy, and critical thinking.
The Bat El Institut brings together researchers, educators, and cultural professionals dedicated to preserving Czech Jewish heritage and renewing Holocaust education. Our team combines academic expertise with creative approaches to storytelling, ensuring that history is presented with accuracy, depth, and humanity.
Together, we work to ensure that our research and educational programs have a lasting impact — connecting historical truth with the realities and challenges of today.
The Bat El Institut brings together researchers, educators, and cultural professionals dedicated to preserving Czech Jewish heritage and renewing Holocaust education. Our team combines academic expertise with creative approaches to storytelling, ensuring that history is presented with accuracy, depth, and humanity.
Together, we work to ensure that our research and educational programs have a lasting impact — connecting historical truth with the realities and challenges of today.
- Yvonne PenkavovaExecutive DirectorYvonne is the Executive Director of the Batel Institute for Jewish History and a PhD candidate at Charles University. Her academic work explores the Jewish community of Prague during the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the rise of national antisemitism, and the evolution of Jewish identity. With over seven years of experience leading educational visits to sites of Czech Jewish heritage, she combines scholarship with hands-on public engagement. Yvonne also manages the institute’s social media presence, sharing insights on Jewish history with a wide audience on Instagram, where she is known for making history accessible and relevant to modern audiences.
- Pavel BatelHead of Research and EducationPavel is a world-renowned expert on the Terezín Ghetto with over twenty years of experience leading educational programs dedicated to its history. He is the author of more than thirty survivor interviews and two works of historical fiction, Tour Guide Story and Jom Kippur, which aim to engage younger audiences in Holocaust education through storytelling inspired by real events. Pavel regularly collaborates with the Terezín Memorial and lectures internationally at Holocaust museums, universities, and Jewish community centers, promoting remembrance and education worldwide. At the Batel Institute, Pavel leads research and educational programs focused on preserving the memory of the Terezín Ghetto and promoting critical Holocaust education.
- Anthony RoosHead of CommunicationsTony studied Jewish Studies at Charles University in Prague and specialized in Modern Middle Eastern History at Ben-Gurion University in Israel. His research focuses on the Jewish community in Prague, the Terezín Ghetto during the Shoah, and the Jewish diaspora in Northern Europe. He serves as Head of the Visitors’ Center at the Jewish Museum in Prague, where he leads educational programs and oversees public engagement. His academic article was published in Judaica Bohemiae, and his commentary on Jewish and Israeli affairs has appeared on CNN, where he was recognized for his insightful coverage of the Amsterdam riots.
- Julie MathauserJunior Researcher and EducatorJulie is a student at Charles University, where she is pursuing a degree in Jewish History and Hebrew. She has also studied Jewish Studies at the Hochschule für Jüdische Studien in Heidelberg, Germany. Julie’s academic interests are broad, including Jewish-Muslim relations, antisemitism, and synagogical liturgy, with a particular specialization in medieval Jewish liturgy.
A regular contributor of scholarly reviews, Julie focuses on works related to translations of medieval chronicles. She contributes to research and develops educational programs that promote understanding of Jewish history and culture.
- Yvonne PenkavovaExecutive Director
Yvonne is the Executive Director of the Batel Institute for Jewish History and a PhD candidate at Charles University. With over seven years of experience leading educational programs on Czech Jewish heritage, she connects scholarship with public engagement and makes history accessible to modern audiences through the institute’s social media platforms.
- Pavel BatelHead of Research and Education
Pavel is a leading expert on the Terezín Ghetto with over twenty years of experience in Holocaust education. He has conducted more than thirty survivor interviews and authored two works of historical fiction, Tour Guide Story and Jom Kippur, both dedicated to remembrance and education. At the Batel Institute, Pavel leads research and educational programs that preserve the memory of Terezín and promote critical Holocaust education.
- Anthony RoosHead of Communications
Tony studied Jewish Studies at Charles University and Modern Middle Eastern History at Ben-Gurion University. His research centers on the Jewish community of Prague, the Terezín Ghetto, and the postwar Jewish diaspora in Europe. At the Batel Institute, he contributes his expertise in education and public engagement, connecting historical scholarship with contemporary understanding.
- Julie MathauserJunior Researcher and Educator
Julie is a student of Jewish History and Hebrew at Charles University and has also studied at the Hochschule für Jüdische Studien in Heidelberg. Her academic work focuses on Jewish–Muslim relations, antisemitism, and medieval Jewish liturgy. At the Batel Institute, she contributes to research and the development of educational programs that deepen understanding of Jewish history and culture.
At the Batel Institute for Jewish History, we are dedicated to preserving and sharing Jewish heritage through dynamic educational experiences.
Our programs engage audiences of all ages and backgrounds — from students to scholars, congregations to community groups — bringing history to life through lectures, excursions, and interactive workshops.
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info@batel-institute.org
