Lodz, Poland: Recognition of the present under the influence of the past
Shosh Chovav, a Shavei Israel volunteer, recently traveled to Lodz, Poland, to teach Hebrew and work with a local Jewish community. Previously we shared with you her essay devoted to the history of Lodz Jewry and main Jewish sights of the city. Today Shosh would like to describe her personal experience and impressions after her travel in a new article.
In accordance with the community administration estimation, headed by the president of the community, Mr. Joseph Weininger, there are at least 10,000 Jews in Lodz, who are afraid of revealing their Jewish identity, for fear of anti-Semitic persecution. This is despite the fact that anti-Semitic persecution is prohibited in Poland. The following passage explains this fear: “..their bodies and souls are sunk in the wounds of the war and there is no cure for the group of the ‘children of the Holocaust.'”
Some fear that the community is a missionary Jewish group, while in the past they have experienced persecution from Christian missionaries against their will.
For a long time, I could not write my impressions, feelings and reminiscences, until the complexity of the members of the Jewish community in Lodz-Poland rose slowly. At first my understanding was dim. The deeper my conversations with the individuals were, the more I understood. The community as a whole included a sense of belonging to their Jewish origins, which was found necessary for complex processes, primarily because they were Jews who had been hidden from World War II. We are talking about three generations of vague Jewish identity.
I was sent to Lodz as a teacher, considering the fact I have several more hats: an educational counselor, a diagnostician and a family therapist. I have acquired, in the natural way, understanding, caring, empathy, rootedness and belonging. This behavior, the closeness between me and the community and most of the details in the community, removed cultural boundaries, language barriers and let Hebrew lessons flow on the waves of sweeping river. I noticed, the connections between the personal identities and the group identity are based on their influence on the sense of belonging. I have reflected various aspects and different angles in the world of the individual that affect the community.
My behavior and values were felt by members of the community. A situation created for themselves and me a need and commitment around my Hebrew lessons. Many of them, from large to small, came to classes, every hour and every day. In my opinion – to fill the deprivation of belonging, of decades. And my commitment was to be available at any given moment during the day. During and outside the Hebrew lessons a pleasant, supportive atmosphere of unity and cohesion was created.
Jewish tourists arriving in Lodz, staying in a community
The community center – where Hebrew classes were held throughout the day.
In light of the menorah, Hebrew studies were held
We formed a number of study groups: three for adults aged 80-65, 45-25 and 10-15, and one for 2-4 years old kids. Here you can see Aharon, a veteran member of the community of Lodz.
Group for adults 80-60 years old – each lesson, you could feel the desire to learn Hebrew and touch Judaism
Group of kids aged 10-13 years. The cooperation of the children of the community amazed us every lesson
The young people of the community, pleasant, intelligent, who yearn to return to their Jewish roots.
This is my student Pinchas, who works in a security of the community center. Therefore, he usually received individual lessons, which were held in the courtyard, near the community gate.
Here you can see a “late wedding” – a local couple in their seventies after dozens of years they lived together decided to have a wedding in accordance with Jewish law. The couple looked happy. During our conversation the couple explained to me that they celebrate more than anything the partnership of fate. For them the ketubah – the certificate of marriage – is the confirmation of that they are together and not alone, as they were until now.
See below more pictures taken by Shosh during her travel to Poland.
