People fly to Israel every day. Some go to visit relatives, others to make aliyah (to immigrate); still others to experience and travel the Holy Land.
For 22 young Polish Catholics however, their two-week trip, which runs from August 15 to August 30, 2010, has symbolized an unusual reunification with their pasts – and an important step for Poland’s nascent Jewish community.
The Hidden Jews of Poland
The descendants of what had once been the largest Jewish community in the world, the young visitors are part of a growing contingent of Polish citizens referred to as the “ Hidden Jews ” of Eastern Europe: Families who in one way or another had concealed their Jewish roots during and following World War II.
The resurgence of democracy in Poland and the efforts of groups like the non-profit organization Shavei Israel has provided the opportunity for thousands of Poles — many whose ancestors had converted to Christianity to hide their Jewish roots during World War II — to rediscover their Jewish heritage. For some, this exploration has been part of a continuing journey to understand their families’ hidden traditions; for others it has come as an unexpected surprise.
Polish Jewish Communities after Communism
Michael Freund, who founded Shavei Israel and works to promote its efforts from his home in Israel, acknowledged that each member of this small contingent carries with him a very personal connection with Judaism.
“Each story is unique,” Freund said. “There are some for whom (their Jewish heritage) comes as a complete shock. There are others who suspected it and one way or another find some evidence, in an archive, or through a family member.”
The invasion of Poland by the Nazis during World War II had a devastating impact on Poland’s thriving Jewish communities in the 1930s and 1940s. Ninety percent of Poland’s 3 million Jews perished in concentration camps and mass executions. Those who survived and remained in Poland following the war were subject to ongoing persecution and difficulties after the rise of communism, dampening any efforts to rekindle the Jewish community.
But the fall of the iron curtain, explained Freund, kindled an interest in many to connect with their Jewish heritage.
“(Now) people feel freer to explore their Jewish roots.” He admitted that seeing the Jewish community reunited and growing stronger has also been heartening for those whose ancestors perished during the Shoa (the Holocaust).
“The sweetest revenge for what was done to our people seven decades ago would be to reach out and bring back as many of Poland's Hidden Jews as possible," said Freund.
Polish Jewry and Aliyah to Israel
Many of the people who participate in Shavei Israel’s seminars aren’t considering immigrating to Israel. Rather, they attend with the mission of learning as much as possible about Judaism and their ethnic heritage so they can return to their home country and become an active part of the Jewish community and its economic and cultural revitalization.
Attendees are flown to Israel and given a two-week introduction to the country, its history and language. The visitors attend lectures in their native language, and are exposed to a basic course in Modern Hebrew. It becomes the personal decision of each enrollee as to whether he or she will ultimately immigrate to Israel.
“Some simply want to live as Jews in Poland," Freund said. "We try to help those who want to immigrate to Israel, but they make their own decisions." Connecting with Israel, its history and many cultures is a catalyst for self-identity.
The Resurgence of Poland's Jewish Community
And in some ways, the renewal of Poland’s Jewish community is a microcosm of global Jewry: it takes work to ensure its growth and vitality.
“The Jewish people is a small people and growing smaller all the time,” said Freund, who pointed out that reconnecting people with their Jewish roots helps to strengthen Polish Jewry and enrich its heritage. A stronger Jewish community in which its members feel energized and proud of their neighborhoods can produce a stronger base for local tourism and an improved economy, said Freund. Anti-semitism can be overcome easier when there are good ambassadors to spread information about the community’s worth and contributions.
“If we are smart enough to cultivate this effort, we only stand to benefit,” said Freund.
Shavei Israel’s latest contingent of visitors to Israel will return to Poland at the end of August, where they will reunite with their Jewish communities and share stories of personal discovery. Hopefully their experiences will help inspire interest from others to learn about their own hidden Jewish heritage.
But the process is rewarding for more than its first-time visitors. Freund admitted is tremendously fulfilling to see the smiles and sense of fulfillment on the faces of Judaism’s newest ambassadors.
“It gives one a sense of satisfaction to help them claim a part of their (Jewish) cultural heritage,” said Freund.
Readers may also enjoy The Hasidic and Satmar Movements of Haredi Judaism , and Rural Jews - Today's Jewish Pioneers.
Sources:
Telephone Interview with Michael Freund, August 23, 2010.
Shavei.org. Accessed August 28, 2010.
HolocaustSurvivors.org. Accessed August 28, 2010.
Jewishvirtuallibrary.org.
Holocaustchronical.org.
Jan Lee - Jan Lee has been writing for online and print publications for more than 20 years and have been published in five countries.
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