Jah-Jireh Around the World — The Czech Republic
Introducing: Jah-Jireh Around the World
Last year, as Jah-Jireh marked its 40th anniversary, it was such a joy to see representatives of independent Jah-Jireh Homes from around the world come together.
Although each home has its own story, location, and way of caring, we were deeply encouraged to meet so many dear ones who share the same heartfelt goal — providing loving care for elderly Jehovah’s Witnesses in an environment where they feel safe, valued, and spiritually supported.
We wanted to share that encouragement with you, too.
In this new series, Jah-Jireh Around the World, we will introduce you to some of these homes in different countries and give you a glimpse of the wonderful work they are doing for our older brothers and sisters.
Wherever they are in the world, the same spirit of love, dignity, and care shines through.
David, who works in Accounts, and his wife, Hayley from the Admissions Team, flew to Prague in the Czech Republic for a holiday and took the opportunity to spend a day visiting the Jah-Jireh Home there. They brought news and greetings from everyone in the Home. We thought we would start with this Home. Here is a little bit about the Home in the Czech Republic.
Greetings from Jah-Jireh in the Czech Republic
The Beautiful Jah-Jireh Home in the Czech Republic
The Jah-Jireh Home is situated in the celebrated spa town of Mariánské Lázně. The area is one of spectacular beauty and boasts over 100 natural mineral springs renowned for treating a variety of ailments!
Of greater beauty than that are the dear older ones who have lived there and endured faithfully for decades. The 2000 yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses gives a glimpse into their spiritual history:
“Jehovah’s Witnesses have experienced periods of much growth, as well as times of hardship, persecution, and sifting. Their work was completely banned for 46 years. Even when not under ban, the Witnesses were not always favored with legal recognition.
The experience of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Czech lands has been like that of the prophet Jeremiah, to whom Jehovah said: “They will be certain to fight against you, but they will not prevail against you, for ‘I am with you,’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘to deliver you.’”—Jer. 1:19.”
If you spend a few minutes with the dear residents of this Jah-Jireh home, you will hear first-hand how Jehovah continues to provide for these dear ones without doubt. And that’s just what David and Hayley did.
Sister Věra Zmeškalová
One of the many residents they met was Sister Věra Zmeškalová. Věra was born in 1928 and was one of over 100 brothers and sisters arrested in a single night on 4 February 1952 by the secret state police in an effort to eliminate Jehovah’s Witnesses. She faithfully endured a year in prison under harsh conditions. Needless to say, Věra survived the ordeal and is now 98 years old! She has been a resident at Jah-Jireh for one year.
Beginnings
The story of the Jah-Jireh Home in the Czech Republic began with Sister Rosálie Kraibichová and Brother Josef Kraibich. The families of Rosálie and Josef were among more than 500,000 people who emigrated from Czechoslovakia during the communist period. Having settled in Germany, they met, came into the truth and were married there.
They returned to the Czech Republic after the fall of communism and supported the theocratic work there. They played an active role in the construction of Kingdom Halls and the new branch in Slovakia. It was in Prague that they met Brother William John Bull, who was a member of the board of directors of the Jah-Jireh Homes in England.
Lubomír, a trustee of the Jah-Jireh Home in the Czech Republic, recollects:
“Brother Bull explained the idea of the elderly care homes of Jah-Jireh, and he recommended that we establish one in the Czech Republic. At that time, we had no property, no money, and no experience. However, with the help of brothers from Britain, our Home in the City of Mariánské Lázně took shape and was started in 2009. And after seven years, in 2016, we bought the house in Prievidza, and the project started in Slovakia, too.”
Brother Kraibich began to serve as a member and then as chairman of the board of Jah-Jireh in the Czech Republic. He continued in that role until his unexpected death in March 2022.
The brothers and sisters have been providing loving care at the Home since 2009. They currently care for 22 residents. Its sister Home in Prievidza, Slovakia, cares for 14 residents. We will be introducing that Home soon.
A Glimpse Into the Home
We are grateful to the brothers and sisters in the Czech Republic for sharing a little of their story with us, and to David and Hayley for bringing back such warm greetings.
This is a beautiful reminder that the spirit behind Jah-Jireh is not limited by borders. In every country, it is seen in the loving care given to faithful older ones who have spent their lives serving Jehovah.
The brothers in the Czech Republic kindly prepared this video for us. We hope you enjoy this glimpse into their beautiful Home and the dear ones who live there.
