Czech Republic: Doctors’ Group Apologizes to Jews

A Czech doctors’ organization apologized to Jewish doctors Thursday for the persecution they endured in pre-World War II Czechoslovakia, an official of the organization said. In October 1938, before the Nazis invaded, organizations of Czechoslovak doctors, lawyers and others issued a memorandum urging the government “to take energetic measures” to prevent Jews from practicing. “We apologize for what our predecessors did to you,” stated a document by the Czech Medical Chamber in Prague. Many Jewish doctors lost their jobs when the government banned them from working in state institutions. The Czech bar association issued a similar apology a year ago.

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Jewish Journal

March 19, 2010

From nytimes.com:

A Czech doctors’ organization apologized to Jewish doctors Thursday for the persecution they endured in pre-World War II Czechoslovakia, an official of the organization said. In October 1938, before the Nazis invaded, organizations of Czechoslovak doctors, lawyers and others issued a memorandum urging the government “to take energetic measures” to prevent Jews from practicing. “We apologize for what our predecessors did to you,” stated a document by the Czech Medical Chamber in Prague. Many Jewish doctors lost their jobs when the government banned them from working in state institutions. The Czech bar association issued a similar apology a year ago.

Read the full story at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/19/world/europe/19briefs-Czech.html