This photograph was taken in a restaurant in Frantiskove Lazne on the occasion of the celebration of my paternal grandparents' golden wedding anniversary, likely between 1930 and 1932, because in it I have to be around 10-12 years old. Sitting next to each other in the middle are the two celebrants: Jeanette Hertzkova and Moritz Hertzka. On the left edge, sitting behind the table is Cecilia Hertzkova, the wife of Uncle Alfred. Beside her you can see my father's sister Adela Goldberg. At my grandfather's side from left to right are his daughter Emilie Hertzkova and then my cousin Lizbet Hertzkova. Standing from left to right are my cousin Rudi Goldberg, his father Max Goldberg, Aunt Adela's husband, my parents Bedrich Hertzka and Marta Hertzkova, and finally me. Opposite me standing is my sister Marketa, beside her Uncle Alfred Hertzka and my other cousin Karel Goldberg.
The whole family gathered for this celebration, which took place in a restaurant in Frantiskove Lazne. A celebratory dinner was served, but those dishes were certainly not kosher. I remember that they brought us badly plucked chickens, and I, seeing the white feathers, asked what it was. My cousin Karel fired back: 'Those are almonds. Eat it, it's good.'
I got this photograph after World War II from my aunt Cecilia Hertzkova. Because they didn't deport her during the Holocaust, she stayed at home and preserved the picture.
My grandfather was born in Slavkov in the period of the Habsburg monarchy. My grandmother's maiden name was Zeni or Jeanette Polak and she came from Uhersk˛ Brod. The grandparents probably met in Slavkov where they also got married.
Moritz and Zeni had four children - Alfred, Adela, Emilie and Bedrich. When my father - Bedrich Hertzka, their youngest son - was four years old, the whole family moved to Libavske Udoli not far from Frantiskovi Lazne. Grandfather got a job there as a cashier in a textile company and he and his family could move to a company apartment. Grandmother was a housewife bringing up her four children. I never really asked them where my grandfather worked in Slavkov and why they actually decided to move to Libavske Udoli but they possibly had better living conditions in the new place.
My grandparents talked to each other mainly in German. They both spoke Czech as well as German and used to communicate with me in both languages. Both of them dressed the same way as other people in Libavske Udoli. It was not possible to recognize their Jewish origin according to the dresses they were wearing. My grandfather didn't have side curls or a moustache and my grandmother didn't wear a wig or a headscarf because they weren't Orthodox Jews.
