Hi everyone! Thanks so much for tuning in again to Saving the Shtetlach, my blog that details my travels through Europe learning about Jewish history and modern Jewish life. Sorry for the wait – I realize it has been way too long since my last post, but I am back again and ready to fill you in on the story of my summer that every day grows deeper and more meaningful to me.
The last time I wrote, I had just summed up my time spent in Warsaw, the first city of my journey this summer. Since then, I have explored Krakow, Berlin, and Prague – three cities that are as diverse in narrative as they are rich in the stories they have to tell.
To start with my time in Krakow, it’s hard to find a place to begin. If I were to pick a word to describe Krakow for me, it would be a Yiddish word: heymish – “like home.” I came to Krakow this summer knowing one person. Within the expanse of five days, I grew to know an entire community. The story of Krakow, particularly the story of its Jewish community, is one of the greatest stories ever to be told. The city and its people stand as a testament to time saying that while history must be remembered, and certainly not repeated, one cannot live in it – one can and must find a way to move forward.
The Jewish Community of Krakow is so amazing because after being nearly decimated in the Holocaust, the community has risen from the ashes and become one again. Within 25 years since the fall of Communism, Jewish people in Poland have decided to go back to their roots and embrace their Jewish identities once again. During my time in Krakow, I had the chance to interview many people who for most of their lives, did not know they were Jewish. Whether they found out from family members or ancestral research of their own – the people I met were faced with a choice. After discovering the truth behind their ancestries, they had to decide whether they would embrace their family’s past and the opportunity to have a Jewish identity or if they would they ignore it. Judaism wasn’t something they could take for granted – being Jewish was an act of choice. Taking on a religion is a big decision to make, and at such a young age, it could change the course of your life. Today, it seems that hundreds of people in Poland, young and old, are making this choice to claim the heritage that was always in them.
The last time I wrote, I had just summed up my time spent in Warsaw, the first city of my journey this summer. Since then, I have explored Krakow, Berlin, and Prague – three cities that are as diverse in narrative as they are rich in the stories they have to tell.
To start with my time in Krakow, it’s hard to find a place to begin. If I were to pick a word to describe Krakow for me, it would be a Yiddish word: heymish – “like home.” I came to Krakow this summer knowing one person. Within the expanse of five days, I grew to know an entire community. The story of Krakow, particularly the story of its Jewish community, is one of the greatest stories ever to be told. The city and its people stand as a testament to time saying that while history must be remembered, and certainly not repeated, one cannot live in it – one can and must find a way to move forward.
The Jewish Community of Krakow is so amazing because after being nearly decimated in the Holocaust, the community has risen from the ashes and become one again. Within 25 years since the fall of Communism, Jewish people in Poland have decided to go back to their roots and embrace their Jewish identities once again. During my time in Krakow, I had the chance to interview many people who for most of their lives, did not know they were Jewish. Whether they found out from family members or ancestral research of their own – the people I met were faced with a choice. After discovering the truth behind their ancestries, they had to decide whether they would embrace their family’s past and the opportunity to have a Jewish identity or if they would they ignore it. Judaism wasn’t something they could take for granted – being Jewish was an act of choice. Taking on a religion is a big decision to make, and at such a young age, it could change the course of your life. Today, it seems that hundreds of people in Poland, young and old, are making this choice to claim the heritage that was always in them.
Part of the sign that hangs in front of the Jewish Community Center in Krakow, listing all of the ways that Jewish people can become involved.
The outdoor part of the JCC Krakow, where members can meet and catch up!
The stories I heard while I was in Krakow were extremely deep and very complex. Questions of what makes a person Jewish and am I “Jewish” enough were always mentioned in interviews. Similarly, for Polish-Jewish teenagers, they feel like they have to constantly answer the question: why do I live in Poland? Interestingly, they are not asking themselves this question. They are sure of themselves and know why they live in Poland – it is their home. But it seems that others, particularly Jews from the United States and Israel, cannot see why a Jew would want to live in their country. Many people look at Poland and only see the Holocaust. They only see Auschwitz and the gas chambers. But this is such a narrow point of view because if one truly studies Jewish history in Poland – they would see so much more than that. The fact that Polish Jews have to constantly defend why they live in Poland greatly disturbs me. To me, this is an example of the post-Holocaust trauma that is felt by Jewish people around the world, but particularly in the United States and Israel. After doing the travel and research I’ve done, I am here to adamantly defend the fact that Jews can and must be able to live anywhere in the world that they want to. Jewish life needs to exist in Poland because if Jews are not there, who will be there to make sure that the rich history and tradition of Jewish life in Poland continues? If it doesn't continue than the Holocaust won. My theory is that the only way the Jewish people can move forward after such a travesty is to make an effort to support and rebuild what was lost. The Jewish people's past in Poland spans over 1,000 years. It is as rich with life as it is with tragedy. Today, it is the home to several hundred – potentially thousands of Jews and we need to support them in their quest to rebuild their community. This is what will create hope – this is what will create a brighter future.
As Jewish people, I feel that no matter we come from, no matter what biases we might hold, we need to help each other and support one another in our endeavors. We are one people, one international community, and if we don’t step up and support each other in our efforts to make a home– who will? It is time to start changing the dialogue and it is time to start reaching out. I am convinced it will make the world – and not just the Jewish world – a much better place.
Now before I move on, I have to thank all the people I met in Krakow for an incredibly beautiful extremely eye opening week. Whether it was interviewing Krakow residents, attending events at the Jewish cultural festival, or just simply exploring the city - it was one of the best weeks of my life and I am so indebted to the people I met who took me in. Kris, Olga, Sara, Serhii, Marcjanna, and the students of the Krakow Jewish Students Club – thanks so much for your friendship and kindness. I was a stranger and you all made me feel like I was home. I felt like Charlie in Perks of Being a Wallflower – when Sam says, “You see things, you understand. You’re a wallflower.” Not that my goal here is to be a silent observer, but for me to go to Krakow and listen to all of your stories – it was an incredible experience for me. You all befriended me, no questions asked, and made me feel like I was a “Krakower” (this is a term I just made up – it’s like Berliner – but for Krakow, and I think I like it). You all are incredible people and I cannot wait to see you all again one day.
To Agnieszka, thank you so much for you sweetness and willingness to help with whatever I needed. It was so wonderful to interview you. Thank you for helping my parents when they came to Krakow a week after me, they love you as well! To Marek Tuszewicki, Ruth Ellen Gruber, Monika Elliot, thank you all so much for your time and your willingness to answer my questions. I learned so much and it was so great to speak with you all. Lastly, to Jonathan Ornstein, thank you so much for your time. Your work as director of the Jewish Community Center in Krakow is incredible – you are a true leader of the Jewish people and the international Jewish community is indebted to your passion and efforts in building Jewish life in Krakow. You are truly one of a kind.
As Jewish people, I feel that no matter we come from, no matter what biases we might hold, we need to help each other and support one another in our endeavors. We are one people, one international community, and if we don’t step up and support each other in our efforts to make a home– who will? It is time to start changing the dialogue and it is time to start reaching out. I am convinced it will make the world – and not just the Jewish world – a much better place.
Now before I move on, I have to thank all the people I met in Krakow for an incredibly beautiful extremely eye opening week. Whether it was interviewing Krakow residents, attending events at the Jewish cultural festival, or just simply exploring the city - it was one of the best weeks of my life and I am so indebted to the people I met who took me in. Kris, Olga, Sara, Serhii, Marcjanna, and the students of the Krakow Jewish Students Club – thanks so much for your friendship and kindness. I was a stranger and you all made me feel like I was home. I felt like Charlie in Perks of Being a Wallflower – when Sam says, “You see things, you understand. You’re a wallflower.” Not that my goal here is to be a silent observer, but for me to go to Krakow and listen to all of your stories – it was an incredible experience for me. You all befriended me, no questions asked, and made me feel like I was a “Krakower” (this is a term I just made up – it’s like Berliner – but for Krakow, and I think I like it). You all are incredible people and I cannot wait to see you all again one day.
To Agnieszka, thank you so much for you sweetness and willingness to help with whatever I needed. It was so wonderful to interview you. Thank you for helping my parents when they came to Krakow a week after me, they love you as well! To Marek Tuszewicki, Ruth Ellen Gruber, Monika Elliot, thank you all so much for your time and your willingness to answer my questions. I learned so much and it was so great to speak with you all. Lastly, to Jonathan Ornstein, thank you so much for your time. Your work as director of the Jewish Community Center in Krakow is incredible – you are a true leader of the Jewish people and the international Jewish community is indebted to your passion and efforts in building Jewish life in Krakow. You are truly one of a kind.
Me and Agnieszka, one of the staff members at the JCC
Serhii, Sara, and Marcjanna - members of the Jewish Student Club at the JCC Krakow
Olga and Sara, leaders of the Jewish Student club and people I'm so happy to call friends.
My dream is to return to Krakow one day. I hope that it is in the near future. I cannot wait to watch and see where the Jewish community goes from here. As I see it, the only way the Jewish people can recover from the horrors of the past is in helping each other to build a better future. I hope that the work I do in my life will help in this. As Spock says, I wish that we will all live long, and prosper.
Now as I write to you, I am sitting in a busy, happening café in Berlin sipping an Earl Grey tea (it’s actually quite cold in Germany). I have lived in Berlin for nearly one month now and it’s been quite an interesting experience that I look forward to writing about. There is so much to say about each of the places I’ve been to on my summer journey. Surely, this blog is just the start. Thanks so much for tuning in again and I promise to write again soon!
Sending much love from Rosenthaler Straße & the vibrant capital of Germany.
Until next time,
Arielle
Sending much love from Rosenthaler Straße & the vibrant capital of Germany.
Until next time,
Arielle
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