The History of Polish Jews

By ⋅ August 25, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment
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jewish-museum150Construction has just started in Warsaw on the Museum of the History of Polish Jews. It will not simply be a museum about the Holocaust. The museum team wants to focus more broadly on centuries of Jewish life and achievements in Poland. Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska has our story. Her report was produced with the help of Feet in Two Worlds, a project of the Center for New York City Affairs at the New School.

Discussion

7 comments for “The History of Polish Jews”

  • pierre picot

    great to hear about this new Jewish museum, which will not only focus on the Holocaust but on the Jewish presence in Poland and Polish culture. As it attempts to polish its image abroad, perhaps even atone for its anti-semitic ways, Poland remains the only eastern European nation to have not settled reparations due to all the families whose properties were seized by the Nazis, the Communists, and now … what shall we call them, the Capitalists?. Let’s see how long it will take them to do the right thing because “crumbs” in the form of this museum will not do.

  • Herbert Lazarus

    There are things much more important than things. What happened in Poland during WWII cannot be atoned for by return of property. Let those who stole that property, or whoever happens to own it now,keep it. Most original owners are dead and who knows who the rightful heirs are?

    Much more important is the reconciliation and repair of relations between Poles and Jews. Demanding property, rightfully or not, just reinforces the Jewish stereotype. How wonderful it would be if the Jews and Poles could manage to live together in friendship and goodwill. That can be achieved if good people in both communities work towards that end.

    • fb

      what are you talking about? The ground in Poland is filled with the blood of 3,000,000 Jewish souls. The Germans were soldiers. Soldiers do what they are told to do. But the Polish neighbors..the children used to play together..and when the time came. The Poles, who did not have to… turned in their jewish neighbors. Please !! No antisemitism? There are no jews and the Poles are living in dead peoples houses.. with dead peoples property… Only the dead can forgive. Not us. Before they dies.. they pleaded “remember. remember we existed.” It was the greatest robbery in history.. and now if a jew says they are owed.. then they fall into that horrible stereotype… is that right? Well let your entire families get killed. have other people living in their homes..making up lies to change history.. then be the huge forgiver. The people told us before their deaths…”Remember.. remember we lived”.

      • http://twitter.com/metaalo darius bzowski

        You Sir must be little crazy, “The Germans were soldiers?”  Last time I checked it was Germans who invaded Poland, moved Jews from all over accross Europe, first into Ghettos and later into concentration camps, which the biggest once they placed in Poland.  Last time I checked ONLY in Poland penalty for hidding a Jew was DEATH, where in other parts in Europe heafty fines, in prisonment.  Also there where plenty of Poles sent to the camps right along with Jews and other nationals.  Ever heard of Warsaw Ghetto uprising and how Poles where trying to help it?  Probably not.  You Sir should read more before openning your mouth next time. 

        There were some cases of antisemitism but same could be said about any nation at that time, and besides these where rare cases.

      • http://twitter.com/metaalo darius bzowski

        You Sir must be little crazy, “The Germans were soldiers?”  Last time I checked it was Germans who invaded Poland, moved Jews from all over accross Europe, first into Ghettos and later into concentration camps, which the biggest once they placed in Poland.  Last time I checked ONLY in Poland penalty for hidding a Jew was DEATH, where in other parts in Europe heafty fines, in prisonment.  Also there where plenty of Poles sent to the camps right along with Jews and other nationals.  Ever heard of Warsaw Ghetto uprising and how Poles where trying to help it?  Probably not.  You Sir should read more before openning your mouth next time. 

        There were some cases of antisemitism but same could be said about any nation at that time, and besides these where rare cases.

      • http://twitter.com/metaalo darius bzowski

        You Sir must be little crazy, “The Germans were soldiers?”  Last time I checked it was Germans who invaded Poland, moved Jews from all over accross Europe, first into Ghettos and later into concentration camps, which the biggest once they placed in Poland.  Last time I checked ONLY in Poland penalty for hidding a Jew was DEATH, where in other parts in Europe heafty fines, in prisonment.  Also there where plenty of Poles sent to the camps right along with Jews and other nationals.  Ever heard of Warsaw Ghetto uprising and how Poles where trying to help it?  Probably not.  You Sir should read more before openning your mouth next time. 

        There were some cases of antisemitism but same could be said about any nation at that time, and besides these where rare cases.

  • Janet

    I can only wish that everyone would listen to this news clip in its ENTIRETY before leaving a comment. Too much misinformation floating around. There is so much more to learn. Hopefully the museum will help to teach those lessons of history – hidden too long behind the iron curtain.