Jewish Studies. Almanac

Strony tytułowe

2024-12-31

Spis treści

2024-12-31

The Jewish Diaspora in Bosnia and Herzegovina: A Historical and Cultural Overview

Anetta Buras-Marciniak — 2024-12-31

The term ‘Sepharad’ originates from Hebrew and denotes Spain. The designation ‘Sephardic’ refers to Jewish emigrants who established themselves on the Iberian Peninsula following the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Sephardic Jews maintained a presence there until the issuance of royal decrees in 1492, compelling them to either depart Spain or undergo conversion to Christianity. In the wake of this event, Spain experienced a loss, while other regions benefited. The Sephardim gradually arrived in Bosnia and Herzegovina, predominantly residing in urban centres. The initial Sephardic Jews settled in Sarajevo circa 1566. Conversely, Ashkenazi Jews commenced settling in Bosnia from 1878 onwards, arriving from various territories within the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. This article aims to provide a historical and cultural survey of the Jewish community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, spanning from their arrival to the present day. The article’s comprehensive scope and thematic complexity is intended to serve as a catalyst for further investigation into this subject matter.

Seven Karaite Heqqeshim of Torah Interpretation According to Sefer Massa u-Meriva by Abraham Firkowicz

Veronika Klimova — 2024-12-31

Abraham Firkowicz was a notable figure within the Karaite community in the 19th century. He primarily worked to establish Karaite distinctiveness and to secure legal separation from Talmudic Jews in the Russian Empire. Through his work, Sefer Massa u-Meriva, he authenticated traditional Karaite Judaism and presented hermeneutical techniques for interpreting the Holy Scripture. Understanding the Karaite interpretation of biblical verses revealed the origins of their customs. Karaite scholars employed seven heqqeshim, or analogies, to interpret holidays, determine the new moon, and establish laws of purity, inheritance, and marriage. While there are no direct textual analogies existing, the heqqeshim are particularly helpful in interpreting the incest laws. Karaite scholars adhered strictly to the degree of consanguinity between the partners, demonstrating that marriage was forbidden not only between individuals specified in the Torah, and thus permitting analogies (for example, the prohibition of siblings marrying another pair of siblings).

Together Through Centuries in One City: Selected Aspects of Jewish Community Life in Tarnow

Anna Pachowicz — 2024-12-31

The history of the Jewish community in Tarnow can be traced back to the 15th century. From that time until the 20th century, Poles and Jews coexisted in this Galician city, engaging in shared work, observing their respective religious festivals, and partaking in communal leisure activities. This article primarily seeks to present an image of the Jewish community as an integral element of Tarnow’s historical narrative, and to examine the dynamics of Polish-Jewish relations within the city. For over six centuries, these relations were largely amicable, notwithstanding certain challenging periods, such as when the proprietor of Tarnow, as a privately held town until 1772, exercised authority over the rights of the Jewish community, possessing the prerogative to prohibit Jewish settlement and entry, or to impose restrictions on trade. This article identifies several notable Jewish figures for whom Tarnow served as either a place of birth or a location of professional activity. The discussion concludes with a reflection on the most tragic episode in the history of Tarnow’s Jewish community: the period of the Second World War and the extermination of thousands of its inhabitants, for whom this city represented their home. In the contemporary landscape of Tarnow, the legacy of its Jewish inhabitants is evoked by, inter alia, the Jewish cemetery, the bimah, the ritual bathhouse, and the mezuzahs affixed to doorframes.

Educational Achievements of Students from Poland and Israel in the light of PISA Results. A Comparative Study

Bernard Panasiuk — 2024-12-31

This article focuses on assessing the differences in the performance of students from Poland and Israel based on the international PISA surveys from years 2000–2022, with particular emphasis on the 2022 edition. It describes the structures of the education systems in both countries, expenditure on education, and teachers’ salaries, highlighting the differences between the two countries. The analysis revealed that Polish students generally achieve better results in mathematics and science than their Israeli peers, while in reading comprehension, Israel shows a higher percentage of students achieving best results. The paper also considers the differences in the percentage of students achieving results below level 2, indicating that this percentage is lower in Poland, which may indicate greater effectiveness of the Polish education system in reducing the number of low-achieving students. The results of the study indicate the need for further analysis of longterm educational trends as well as organisational and curricular changes in both countries, which may have an impact on the results of future PISA surveys.

Jews in Żelechów: History and Heritage

Magdalena Parzyszek — 2024-12-31

This article aims to examine the town of Żelechów, its origins and history, focusing on its Jewish community. Jews arrived in the town in the late 16th or early 17th century and resided there until 1942. Stanisław Mateusz Rzewuski was the first landowner to permit Jewish settlement in that location. The community quickly established a Jewish communal council (kahal or qahal), constructed a synagogue, and fostered a vibrant religious life under the leadership of figures such Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev (also known as Berdichever), who introduced Hasidism to Żelechów. The community also maintained a Jewish elementary school (cheder). In October 1940, a ghetto was established in Żelechów, which was subsequently liquidated in 1942. Towards the end of that year, displaced persons from the Zamość region were brought to Żelechów.

Jewish Museums as Migration Museums. Case Studies from Denmark and Norway

Michalina Petelska — 2024-12-31

This article argues that Jewish museums can be considered museums of migration. The Danish Jewish Museum in Copenhagen presents the 400-year history of Jewish immigration to Denmark and the integration process of different waves of Jewish immigrants into Danish society. The Jewish Museum in Trondheim presents the immigrant history of a community whose founding ancestors came from a compact territory on the border of present-day Poland and Lithuania. The activities of both museums showcase the broader context of current social situation in Scandinavia, which is the destination of newcomers, refugees and asylum seekers. These museums show both positive experiences (successful integration) and difficult experiences (resentment against the “foreign”, “other” leading to genocide). The examination of Scandinavian case studies is presented in this text in connection with the activities of migration museums.

Post-War Cartographic Representations of the Kraków Ghetto

Stanisław Szombara — 2024-12-31

This article undertakes a critical analysis of maps depicting the Kraków Ghetto produced in the post-Second World War period between 1946 and 2023. The available maps exhibit considerable variation in quality, as cartographic inaccuracies can significantly distort the representation of the ghetto space, thereby impacting research and the reconstruction of narratives pertaining to the locations where Jews resided, laboured, sought refuge, and perished during the occupation. The extant maps were examined from both cartographic and historical perspectives, resulting in a systematisation of knowledge concerning ghetto maps available within the literature. Following an introductory section, the article provides a concise overview of the Kraków ghetto’s history and presents a quantitative and qualitative analysis of 35 maps. Among other features, the analysis encompasses streets (including names and layout), buildings, and other significant elements (e.g., gates, tram lines, and ghetto boundaries) represented on the maps.

The Jewish Sports Club “Makkabi” Biała Podlaska

Ernest Szum — 2024-12-31

This article presents the history of the Jewish Sports Club „Makkabi” Biała Podlaska. It is a topic hitherto undescribed in Polish sources. The activities of the Biała Podlaska Jewish Sports Club „Makkabi” are contextualised against the background of physical culture amongst Polish Jews. The chronological scope of the article primarily covers the period from Poland’s regaining of independence in 1918 to its subsequent loss during World War II, although it also touches upon the preceding years of the Second Polish Republic. The article presents the origin of ideas and practices within the sphere of physical culture among the Jewish diaspora in Poland, as well as the process of its formation in earlier times. Jewish sport is presented as an intangible element of this ethnic group’s culture, contributing to the strengthening of identity and social position within the Second Polish Republic. The physical culture of Polish Jews is examined against the backdrop of the general characteristics of Jewish life in Poland during this period.