A monument in Bratislava celebrates Imrich Lichtenfeld – the successful athlete, protector of the city’s Jewish community, and founder of krav maga (Hebrew for ‘close combat’) who grew up here.

“It will be displayed for the next year to commemorate our shared values and history, then embark on a journey that follows Imirich’s journey on the steamer Pentcho to Palestine before the statue’s triumphant return," said FABRIKart’s Andrej Aleksiev when the statue was unveiled.

"His orb symbolizes a fragility and vulnerability that at first sight is destined for a duel with danger (as depicted by sharp spikes). Yet as the protector of the weak, Imrich defends them and gifts them the krav maga martial art to protect themselves,” explains sculptor Šimon Chyla. "It’s high time that Imrich Lichtenfeld’s achievements were recognised in the capital city," said Patrik Zoltvány, chair of the Israel Chamber of Commerce in Slovakia. You can see the statue on the Zuckermandel footbridge by the Danube riverside.