Fieldwork in the Jewish community in Prague

This bachelor thesis "Fieldwork in the Jewish community in Prague" is concerned with the social identity of young Czech Jews. The aim of this work is to describe the duality, or hybridity of identity based on the blending of two distinct identities, namely Czech and Jewish identity. There is also an effort to transcribe the self-reflection bearers of these identities in their everyday lives. This work relies on the work of several prominent authors handling with social, or ethnic identity, and also on earlier research conducted by Dana Bittnerová on national and ethnic minorities living in the Czech Republic. The basis of this work is anthropological fieldwork, which focused primarily on members of one particular group, which is part of the Prague community. This group is called Czech Union of Jewish youth. This research was consisted of participant observation organized events or events arising spontaneously and of interviews with selected respondents. It is shown that for all the observed, Jewishness and Czechness are an integral part of their identities, of whom they are. And that these two identities are closely intertwined. Jewish identity is indeed imperative, but to maintain a strong identity is also necessary process of self-identification. The signs of declared identity are also important..