Miloš Pojar (1940 – 23 January 2012) was a Czech (and Czechoslovak prior to 1993) historian, writer and diplomat. Pojar oversaw the establishment of diplomatic relations between the former Czechoslovakia and Israel following the Velvet Revolution.[1] He became the first Czech ambassador to Israel following the revolution.[1] Pojar served as ambassador from 1990 until 1994.[2] His son, Tomáš Pojar, currently serves as the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Israel, as of February 2012.[1][2]
The majority of Pojar's books and articles focused on Jewish history and themes, though the government of Communist Czechoslovakia forbid him from publishing his work from 1970 until 1990.[1] After returning from Israel, Pojar became the director of the Jewish Museum in Prague's Educational and Cultural Center in the 1990s and a lecturer at the New York University's Prague campus.[1][3]
His last book, completed shortly before his death, explored the relationship between Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk and the Jewish people.[1]
Pojar died at a hospital in Prague on 23 January 2012 at the age of 71.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g "Milos Pojar, post-communist Czechoslovakia's first envoy to Israel, dies". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. January 24, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
- ^ a b "Milos Pojar, 1st Czech ambassador to Israel after 1989 Velvet Revolution, dies at 71". Washington Post. Associated Press. January 24, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2012.[dead link]
- ^ Profile at the New York University in Prague website Archived March 24, 2010, at the Wayback Machine