This weekend, a unique event will take place in Kazimierz, Krakow's historic Jewish quarter. A prayer with songs and dance in the Kupa synagogue will begin a weekend of "Rediscovering Judaism in Poland", a weekend aimed not just at the current Jewish population, but particularly for those labeled "lost Jews" - Poles who are just discovering that they have Jewish roots.
For three days Jews from Poland and abroad will discuss the current situation in Poland, at a time when many people, either through researching their family histories or by accident, are discovering their Jewish roots, and asking themselves what it means to be Jewish. Many of those are children or grandchildren of Jewish children who had been adopted by Christian families during the Second World War, and have been brought up as Christians.
The event will feature several workshops and discussions throughout the three days, including the release of the very first Polish-Jiddish dictionary since before World War II. On Sunday, Rabbi Michael Schudrich and others will lead a rabbi session, while on Saturday night Alchemia will be transformed into a Jewish pub, and a special film screening will take place. For those who can't wait until the annual Jewish Culture Festival for a dose of Jewish life, this weekend will be a rare treat. |