Faces of the renewed Polish Jewish community
Shavei Israel’s first ever Purim seminar for young Jews from Poland has now wrapped up. The 14 participants had a delightful ten days in Israel…and we have the pictures to prove it.
Shavei Israel’s director of marketing and new media Laura Ben David joined the group on their trip to Israel’s parliament – the Knesset – and as always she brought her camera. She shared with us some remarkable portraits of group members.
The faces of these not-so-hidden-anymore Jews from Poland are a living testament to the remarkable resilience of Jewish people. Many of the seminar participants did not even know they were Jewish until recently, when they learned of their heritage from aging grandparents. Now, with Shavei Israel’s help, they have visited the land of their ancestors.
Pirate with Polish seminar participant
In addition to the Knesset photos, the group sent us some shots they took on their own as they visited the caves and grottos at Rosh Hanikra, toured the old city of Acre on land and sea (by way of a festive boat ride on the Mediterranean), and celebrated their first Purim in Israel. (We’re not sure who the pirate is, but we’re pretty confident it’s a costume.)
It may have been their first visit to Israel at Purim time, but based on the feedback we heard during the seminar, we expect to see some of the Polish participants back in Israel – maybe as soon as our annual summer seminar which is coming up in August.
Here are Laura’s photos
And here are some of the group on tiyul
