Beit Polska’s multi faceted vision for the renewal of Progressive Polish Jewish life is supported by Friends of Jewish Renewal in Poland (501 3c) and the European/World Union for Progressive Judaism (EUPJ/ WUPJ). In addition we seek your vital support–through your foundation, through family celebrations and memorials, and through your personal gifts.
Click here to see the ‘omnibus’ projects; we seek your partnership and collaboration.Your interest is key to redeveloping Jewish life in Poland. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter and blogs, PolishJewsReviving.org and RabbiBeliakBlog.org, and help us create the miracle.
These are non-profit businesses that will realize a return to support Beit Polska initiatives. These venture projects will draw on talented people from our congregational community. Beit Polska has established a non-profit entity responsible to the board, to foster ventures that will be conducted as businesses, to bring in income to the Beit Polska goal of self-sufficiency. Initially, the expected profit will be limited, but the model of operation and accountability will reflect an entrepreneurial spirit that will benefit the growth of the Progressive Polish Jewish community, provide for the general business and social welfare of Polish society. These projects will provide substantial part-time work for community members. The business training will create important community dynamics that will re-introduce a sense of market economy, and improved community cohesion. These venture projects will provide legitimacy and visibility for Progressive Judaism in Poland.
Target $25,000
Among the globally dispersed 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation of people from Polish lands, there is increasing interest in researching family history and origins. For some there is a desire to access birth records and other documents. Many others are looking for tour groups to guide them and to provide a research process before or during their trip. Many are curious to see modern Poland and resurgence of Jewish vitality. Beit Polska currently provides informal travel/tourist agency services (including: guides, drivers, information about food and hotels) and it provides genealogical research services to meet this growing demand. The proposed project will formalize this service in an agency format that will be available worldwide via web and social media. This is an excellent opportunity for Jews around the world to meet and visit the Progressive Jewish communities emerging in Poland. These services will help to enhance mutual sharing and learning among Jewish Poles who often are seeking their roots and their cousins outside of Poland. We are seeking funds to professionalize and train more members of our community. Currently, in three of our communities we have these services and we want to expand.
Currently, Beit Polska has access to a customized family-tree program—superior to Ancestry.com—that allows people in Poland and people everywhere to update and maintain genealogical research simultaneously.
Objectives:
- Train additional 4 people to do genealogical research
- Respond to 50 inquiries/year for genealogical research (currently doing responding to 25)
- Increase ability to respond to 50 tourism/guide requests (from government and commercial), from current 25
- Host sessions of tour guides and tour companies with Polish tourist office in Beit Warszawa and Beit Trojmiasto.
- Post information about the availability of tourist receptions at Beit Warszawa and at Beit Trojmiasto to meet congregants
Activities:
- Reform and Conservative movements have inquiries for groups directly or through tourist agencies
- Respond in an organized fashion to people seeking help to find records and trace the lineage
Partnering Organizations:
- We receive inquiries through the year for help in locating documents guides through World Union for Progressive Judaism
Staffing:
- Mirski
Click here to return to the main Omnibus Grant Application.
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