Stolperstein, Ajka

The Stolperstein commemorate local residents who were deported to Auschwitz in 1944. The Stolperstein is not only a commemoration of a specific person who lived among us, but also a non-intrusive but inevitable encounter between past and present, Jews and non-Jews. It is a bridge between different times and cultures that makes us pause, the terse information engraved on the stone gently prompting questions, reflection and engagement. The project focuses on Veszprém, Lake Balaton and the surrounding villages (for example Herend, where the local manufactory was an important site of Jewish civilisation), thus drawing attention to local Jewish memories and the importance of intercultural dialogue. This not only promotes a broad presentation of local Jewish values, but also promotes intercultural dialogue. Mutual and ongoing dialogue is the real bridge between cultures, not a one-way street. The aim of the project is to involve local residents and visitors from the surrounding area, as well as guests from the Veszprém-Balaton region, in programmes that will allow us to celebrate cultural diversity together and make dialogue not just theoretical but personal and real.