‘Don’t Bury Us Just Yet’

A sampling of your comments on my posts on Polish Jewry’s tragic past and uncertain future.

Glory days: A reconstruction, in Warsaw’s POLIN Museum of Jewish History, of a centuries-old synagogue.

Dear Readers,

Many thanks to those of you who responded to the two essays I posted in the past week.

The first was “Confronting Polish Jewry’s Tragic Past” and the second was “Breathing Life Into A Community Given Up For Lost.” 

Here are several of the more thoughtful comments I received.

Shabbat shalom to all.

Jews Were Targeted

Beautiful, balanced and honest, as always. 

Of course, many, many Poles were killed during the brutal and inhumane German occupation. But Jews were targeted, terrorized and killed solely because they were Jews, and in much greater numbers. 

We can mourn all victims of the Nazis but we can never accede to claims of moral equivalence. 

Bernard Horowitz

Avoiding Responsibility

Sensitive, beautifully written article. Thank you. 

Portrays the complex relationship the Jews have had with Poland for generations. The current Polish government makes the argument that Jews and Poles were both victims of Nazi aggression. While it is true that Nazi war crimes took place on Polish soil against the will of the Polish government, and that many innocent Poles were murdered by Germans, it is absurd to try to equate the level of victimization. 

Poles suffered as conquered citizens; difficult but survivable. Not the case for Jews, who were hunted down as a race, at times, even often, with Polish complicity. 

This kind of growing erasure of responsibility for the collaboration of average citizens during the Holocaust in right-wing Eastern European capitals is dangerous. 

It is understandable that Israel would want to retain ties with Poland...we do now have a shared history, with a massive Jewish cemetery on their soil. The physical proof of this great crime must be maintained and yes, visited, in order to be understood. But truth and a reframing of history should not be the cost. 

Shari Mendes

Change Of Mind

I always felt that going back to the scene of the crime was not something I wanted to do, and felt we should not contribute to a nation that helped annihilate us.

After reading this article, I believe that the members of the Polish community should do all they can to survive and let the world know that the Jews lost the battle but won the war.

Their determination to continue Jewish life after all that happened is a sign that good will always win over bad.

Teaching the younger generation of their heritage is the best anyone can do.

Let’s hope and pray for continued support of Jews all around the world for the benefit of Klal Yisrael.

Jack Saltzman

A Daughter’s Observation

What a beautiful article. It painted a broad picture and I appreciated it.

It reminded me of something I told my daughter when she had a Lauder Foundation grant to go to Germany and teach Judaism to Russian immigrants who were either stopping in Germany on the way to Israel, or staying in Germany. I told her she shouldn’t be in Germany. 

“Why are you going?” I asked her. “Why renew life there?  Why renew life there? They should be in Israel.”

My daughter looked at me and said, “And what about American Jews? Where should they be?”

I said, “Check.” (I didn’t want to say “Checkmate”  – never let your daughter fully get the upper hand.)

 But when Ronald Lauder showed up at our synagogue one Shabbat, I told him the story and said, “Kol HaKavod  for what you’re doing.”

Dr. Lewis J. Bernstein

Overlooked Subject

Both columns are among the most insightful I have read on contemporary Polish Jewry. 

Somewhat ironic that Jewish communal attention to Poland has focussed almost exclusively on anti-Semitism in Polish society, Holocaust remembrance, and Polish-Israel relations. 

The story of efforts to revive Jewish life in Poland, comparatively, has merited barely a mention. Unfortunate comment on Jewish communal priorities: threats to Jews far outweigh in the communal mindset efforts to enhance the quality of Jewish life.

Steven Bayme

‘We Jews Are Still Here’

This very meaningful post brought back memories of the trip my husband and I had to Krakow in 2006. We were accompanied by a Jewish Studies faculty member at Jagiellonian University. We were impressed that there were, at the time, around 20 professors in that department. 

As you noted, Kazimierz was fascinating...non-kosher restaurants where you could get Jewish foods related to every holiday on the calendar, all at once. 

I took a particular interest in the [Rav Moshe] Isserles shul, as I have a document claiming that I am descended from the Remah. I recall standing at his grave and telling him, aloud, that I am back, and that we Jews are still here. 

And of course, we learned that the annual Jewish music festival features non-Jewish performers. 

Even though I think the Polish government pursues connection with Jews because it brings in tourists, I am glad that Jewish life continues there. Hitler did not win after all.

Dedi Firestone

Not forgotten: stones on the tombstones at the Krakow cemetery on the grounds of the 16th century synagogue of Rav Moshe Isserles (known as The Remah). Note two chasidim visiting the graves in the background.

Still A Footnote

 Very much appreciate your observations.

Obviously, demography will determine our future, and without an influx of ex-Soviet (i.e. ex-Polish - there were no Jews in Russia before the Partitions) Jews the future of communal Jewish life here will remain uncertain.

If the current government remains in power, I would not encourage Jews to settle here, and would not try to convince those already here to stay. But even this juggling of possibilities still is a footnote, if tiny, in the book of Jewish life in Poland.

 So don't bury us just yet.

Konstanty Gebert

Warsaw, Poland