Holocaust survivor and visionary philanthropist, Zygmunt Rolat addressed students and and young people in Auschwitz – Birkenau at the annual March of the Living at the Arpil 16, 2015 commemoration. Mr. Rolat is one of key innovators and philanthropists who struggled to bring the museum; Polin: A Museum of the History of Polish Jews” to […]
Hanukkah 2014
Enjoy the wonderful pictures from Beit Warszawa Hanukkah 2014 (5775). The Progressive Jewish community in Warsaw enjoyed wonderful latkes and Hanukkah games (especially dreidle) and activities. Please consider a Hanukkah tax free gift that will sustain the hope filled work of Beit Polska and the nine communities served by the European Union for Progressive Judaism and Friends of Jewish […]
Rabbi Gil Nativ Welcomes New Prayer Leaders & New Jews
6th Kislev, 5775 – 28 November, 2014 Welcome Address by Rabbi Gil Nativ The Sages in the Talmud taught: ‘Ein me’arvin simcha besimchah’ = “Do not combine two joyful events together” [Talmud, Mo’ed Qatan 8b-9a]. Indeed we should have celebrated the ordination of Shlichei Tzibbur on another Friday night, but since all Shlichei Tzibbur trained by […]
What Makes Jews Jewish
Missionary Group Pretends They Are Jews At Ceremony To Honor The Memory Of Jews Of Orla In a response to a recent blog about our visit to the Orla synagogue we received a rather lengthy letter from Evgeny & Taniusha Kolodzins, Directions [sic], Representations of Program of the Jewish-Christian dialogue, Shomer International in the Republic of Belarus. […]
Dear Jane — Pursuing a Future Requires Hope
Reflections on Jane Eisner’s Visit to Poland – Perceptions and Misperceptions Dear Jane, You have been to Poland through the Forum but not seen or met Polish Jews. The Forum addresses Poles and American Jewish visitors. It seems to have an allergy to Polish Jewish life. Lets say it favors certain groups and elides (suppresses) […]
Orla’s Jews Remembered: Returning Gravestones (Matzevot)
Monday, November 3, I attended a memorial gathering in eastern Poland in a little town, Orla (in Polish “of the eagles”), near Bialystok. Jews once made up at least 2/3 of the inhabitants of this now Polish-Byelorussian village, but seventy-two years ago they were carted away to their death. Today, the synagogue once proud stands […]
POLIN: A Museum of the History of Polish Jews means “Go Forth … Lech Lecha”
This week’s Torah reading is encapsulated in two mighty words, a clarion call spoken by God to the founder of Judaism and its sister monotheisms – Christianity and Islam — to Avram: Lech Lecha – “Go forth.” As one rendering of the Hebrew says: God said to Avram: Go! Go! from your land, from your […]
Polish Court Upholds Religious Freedom for Progressive Jews
In a historic expression of support for religious freedom a Polish court affirmed the right of the Union of Progressive Jewish Communities in Poland – Beit Polska – to exist. On October 14, 2014 a three member panel of the Polish Supreme Administrative Court instructed the lower courts to reverse their decisions on technical issues […]