At Home in Brno: Štetl Fest 2026 

My sister, Catherine, and I are leaving Paris this morning after an amazing experience in Brno, Czech Republic, where we laid Stolpersteine (memorial stones for the departed) in front of the house where my father was born in 1932. Catherine, our childhood friend Sylvia and I were invited to stay in my father's home during the Fest, which made the experience especially meaningful and moving. Other cousins, all descendants of the same great-great-grandparents, also laid stones in front of the homes that were the last residences of their relatives before deportation or flight.The stones were part of a larger event, Štetl Fest, which honors a different influential Brno family every year. This year, it was our family, the Placzeks. Now in its fifth year, the festival includes many presentations, musical events, and other celebrations.I gave a talk on the history of my father's house, which originally belonged to our great-great-grandparents. Meeting wonderful new family members and the Fest organizers made this an unforgettable experience. Seeing old friends from Brno was priceless!

Arriving at what was once my grandparents' house in Brno, with my sister and childhood friend (taking the picture).

Being shown around the house by current owner (and friend!) Jana and daughter Vilma.

Speech time with cousin Erich at the family welcome dinner (August 25).

Cousins Tracey and Michael at the welcome dinner.

Cousin Michael's partner, childhood friend Sylvia, and sister Catherine at the welcome dinner.

Maria made me a pair of earrings, as she said, "one stitch at a time." Such a thoughtful gift!

Panel at the Placzek meet and greet in Brno.

Jáchym Kanarek, president of the Brno Jewish Community, performing the stone laying ceremony in front of the house. The stones are laid in several countries in commemoration of those who were deported, killed, or had to flee during the Holocaust

Family members, friends and community members at the ceremony.

Placing the stones before being permanently installed in the sidewalk.

Stones were laid for our great-grandmother Jella/Goa, our grandfather Oskar, our great-uncle Georg, our grandmother Hélène and our father Edouard (spelt Eduard in Czech).

One of the two men responsible for the laying of the stones.

It's quite a process!

Meticulously brushing off the dust from the cement.

My friend Marketa's son, first to step (and play!) on our family's stones. Life goes on...

Cousins Mary Ann and Eric Placzek laying stones for their great-grandparents, Marianne and Alfred Placzek at the family  summer house in Alexovice (now being turned into a beautiful hotel by its current owner, Jan Dašovský).

Family photo in front of the Placzek villa.

Meeting the Israel ambassador to the Czech Republic at the Placzek villa.

Signing Michael's tree of the Placzek family, reproduced by Jan's partner, Hannah/Hanka on one of the walls of the Placzek Villa.

Cousin Karen and her family laying stones at her grandparents' home in Alexovice, near Brno.

Michael at the emotional stone-laying ceremony for his grandfather, Hans Fuhrmann.

Explaining the history of my grandparents' house that was in the family for several generations.

Well-deserved rest before meeting our friends the Kanareks for our last dinner in Brno.

Jana generously invited us to stay in the house our father was born in and that her grandparents bought from our grandmother right after the war. My sister slept in our father's room, pictured here.

The garden our father wrote about fondly. With Jana and her daughter and grandchildren.

Saying goodbye to Petr, Jana and her sister on our last night in Brno. Theyir apartment is on the top floor of the Seidler house.