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1989 was the time of the big social changes, the Velvet Revolution. Every single day I went to demonstrate on SNP Square. There were four of us, two of my good friends and another lady. So that I would see and hear better, we would always hurry to the front and stand at the railing.
The joke was - in those days everyone said that when Carnogursky [37] was to make a speech, he would come out on the podium, look around and say: ‘Mrs. Lofflerova is already here, so we can begin.’ I was always there. When everything came together, then I missed it. I don’t go anywhere to demonstrate anymore.
Since the regime change, the world isn’t worse, but not really, that I can give my opinion without risk. I give it anyway, but I’m always a little scared. I say it everywhere, whether they like it or not. My family is definitely living better than we did. You can live, it’s not so dangerous.
You can always do something and make money, you just have to want to. Of course, the younger people have to get used to living like Americans, that it doesn’t matter how many academic degrees you have, if you have to sweep the streets or wash dishes, until something better comes along. I had to do that, too. That’s what they never learned here.
There were big changes everywhere: the sense of community among the Jews was never like this. Namely, there are meetings, we attend great performances. I never knew that there are so many Jews still, and I find out who is who. The meetings are much richer when it comes to cultural events.
Though, as the rabbi also says, they are also a lot more accommodating in religious areas. There aren’t enough Orthodox Jews, today there are only Neolog Jews. We’re only in the temple on high holidays, but then we’re there to gossip.
The joke was - in those days everyone said that when Carnogursky [37] was to make a speech, he would come out on the podium, look around and say: ‘Mrs. Lofflerova is already here, so we can begin.’ I was always there. When everything came together, then I missed it. I don’t go anywhere to demonstrate anymore.
Since the regime change, the world isn’t worse, but not really, that I can give my opinion without risk. I give it anyway, but I’m always a little scared. I say it everywhere, whether they like it or not. My family is definitely living better than we did. You can live, it’s not so dangerous.
You can always do something and make money, you just have to want to. Of course, the younger people have to get used to living like Americans, that it doesn’t matter how many academic degrees you have, if you have to sweep the streets or wash dishes, until something better comes along. I had to do that, too. That’s what they never learned here.
There were big changes everywhere: the sense of community among the Jews was never like this. Namely, there are meetings, we attend great performances. I never knew that there are so many Jews still, and I find out who is who. The meetings are much richer when it comes to cultural events.
Though, as the rabbi also says, they are also a lot more accommodating in religious areas. There aren’t enough Orthodox Jews, today there are only Neolog Jews. We’re only in the temple on high holidays, but then we’re there to gossip.
Location
Slovakia
Interview
Katarina Löfflerova