My polish uncle died smuggling food to ghettos to polish people with Judaism faith - to people in general. My auntie was 9 when Nazi German soldiers put gun to her head to receive information about food smuggler, she didn't say a thing. I am living in Lodz in the heart of Poland, where city still didn't recovered after war, next to me I have a place that was burned to the ground with people inside, because they were hiding jews in their basement. I think the whole situation it's just SAD. Thank God my grandma can't see what is happening with the world anymore.
Kasia Sobki It is sad. Poland has the largest number of Righteous Among the Nations. The people of Jewish faith should remember the greatest heroine of the Warsaw ghetto was not a Jew but a Polish Catholic who saved over 2500 children from certain death in the Warsaw ghetto. Her name? Irena Sendler. 2500 children. How many generations is THAT?
@@gingermiller4046 but you must understand, not every polish is the same. many were really good people, but obviously it just can't be everyone, right? I heard both tribble and amazingly wonderful acts that polish did. from raping an innocent 9 years old Jewish girl, to hiding babies in the pockets of the sweater and save many Jews. it's just reality, people do good and bad things. Poland is no different.
@kasia sobki@ you'll be happy to know we have a full section in history class dedicated to people that saved Jews, from Poland to even Germany and more, but you're brave family isn't the only one in Poland, and you have to exept the fact, that some polish were bad as some were good, just like the Jews, that's just the way of the world. if one woman had a bad time it doesn't mean everyone suffered the same hardship, and if one woman was saved by you're family it doesn't mean every woman received such a kindness, it's just the way of the world. 🙂 personally I don't think Poland is antisemitic because I have polish friend from overseas, but everyone has their own opinion based on their own experience, and what can we do, not all the time this experience is good just as not all the time it is bad.
I am sorry to hear your family's story during WW2. My own Jewish family lived in Eastern Poland, and was almost wiped by Germans during their takeover of Lvow in 1942. At that time there was also a pogrom organised by Ukrainians, and my three uncles were in hiding, looked after by their Polish maid. All of them, including this courageous woman, were murdered (hung on their veranda). Even though she could not save them I still feel indebted to her for her sacrifice.
One of many "polonized" Polish Jew was Julian Tuwim, influential writer and publicist. He sometimes complained (also in his works) that he was attacked by some voices from both Polish (as a Jew) and Jewish (as a traitor) sides. If it wasn't for tragedy of WWII and nazi ideology implemented in Poland by foregn power (Germany) i do believe we would have learned to live together in a diverse society & enrich our cultures until this day
Not sure about blaming germans and ww2. .before the war, there were pogroms , quotas to schools universities professional bodys.the catholic church spread its own kind of hatred..
I lived in in the former Austrian Silesia, Cieszyn Silesia. The thing here is the Jews were mostly integrated to the German culture in the local towns and interestingly up to the rise of Nazis they were often forming coalitions with the Germans in the municipalities, against the Poles. But there was one assimilated Polish Jew from the countryside, who left for Israel in 1936. Then in the 70s he began writing books in Polish there, saying how he misses this land. An interesting discovery for me, he even knew the dialect, his name was Józef Kornblum from Pruchna.
1:22 - Many Polish Jews before (and after) WWII become prominent Polish writers and poets: Julian Tuwim, Jan Brzechwa, Antoni Słonimski, Stanisław Lem. It seems Słonimski was a very popular writer in Poland before WWII. Lem survived WWII and become one of the worlds foremost writers of sciene fiction. Brzechwa's and Tuwim's poems for children are untill today taught in schools in Poland. Tuwim was a genius and author of very good political poems such as anti-war manifesto "Do prostego człowieka" (To the simple man) which is ASTONISHINGLY topical today. I recommend to anyone to read it as well as to hear its sung version by Akurat.
Both of my grandfathers were in the Russian Army that is where they met. My one Grandfather was from Suwalki and the other Grandfather was from Minsk. They left Europe around 1908 and emigrated to The U.S.A. Not sure if they were Jewish or not. But I often wonder if they did not make that move if I would even be alive today. Something to really think about. I am just wondering if any Jews hid their Jewish heritage when they emigrated?
How come? my favorite wrighter from childhood was Julian Tuwim polonized Jew and i love him since i first read his children book about locomotive i just find out he was a jew but i love him the same way. Because he clamed to be Polish not jew born in Poland and that's the point here for Poles its doesan't matters if you jew Ukraina or Russian but if you love Poland you are Polish we are not discriminating on religion or nationality why u want to be special?
@@HRLUA Hi Hrula. I know, Numerus clausus is a form of discrimination by limiting number of Jewish students that can be admitted, used from Russia to USA at the time. Considering that at the time in ethnically diverse Poland, about 50% of Polish educated/financial elite were Jewish, while roman-catholic Polish being majority of the population had much harder time getting to the university (mostly because of poverty, poor social capital...), one could look at this today in a very different way, not as a simple 1-1 anti-jewish law exemplifying hatered towards Jews, but rather policy of social cohesion. It holds resemblance to Affirmative Action in US, assigning quotas to ethnicities to promote the disadvantaged. It's still controversial, and proponents of this law were often actual antisemites, but it's not so black-and-white...
Ah, I see. You mean for winning more Nobel prizes per capita than non-Jews in the post-enlightenment developed world; you mean for turning out more doctors, lawyers and academics per capita than non-Jews; you mean for ushering forth something called the Judeo- Christian tradition that has underpinned Western society for 2,000 years, etcetera?
My polish uncle died smuggling food to ghettos to polish people with Judaism faith - to people in general. My auntie was 9 when Nazi German soldiers put gun to her head to receive information about food smuggler, she didn't say a thing. I am living in Lodz in the heart of Poland, where city still didn't recovered after war, next to me I have a place that was burned to the ground with people inside, because they were hiding jews in their basement. I think the whole situation it's just SAD. Thank God my grandma can't see what is happening with the world anymore.
Kasia Sobki It is sad. Poland has the largest number of Righteous Among the Nations. The people of Jewish faith should remember the greatest heroine of the Warsaw ghetto was not a Jew but a Polish Catholic who saved over 2500 children from certain death in the Warsaw ghetto. Her name? Irena Sendler. 2500 children. How many generations is THAT?
@@gingermiller4046
we learn about them in school in Israel!!🙂🙂
@@gingermiller4046
but you must understand, not every polish is the same. many were really good people, but obviously it just can't be everyone, right?
I heard both tribble and amazingly wonderful acts that polish did. from raping an innocent 9 years old Jewish girl, to hiding babies in the pockets of the sweater and save many Jews.
it's just reality, people do good and bad things. Poland is no different.
@kasia sobki@ you'll be happy to know we have a full section in history class dedicated to people that saved Jews, from Poland to even Germany and more, but you're brave family isn't the only one in Poland, and you have to exept the fact, that some polish were bad as some were good, just like the Jews, that's just the way of the world. if one woman had a bad time it doesn't mean everyone suffered the same hardship, and if one woman was saved by you're family it doesn't mean every woman received such a kindness, it's just the way of the world. 🙂
personally I don't think Poland is antisemitic because I have polish friend from overseas, but everyone has their own opinion based on their own experience, and what can we do, not all the time this experience is good just as not all the time it is bad.
I am sorry to hear your family's story during WW2. My own Jewish family lived in Eastern Poland, and was almost wiped by Germans during their takeover of Lvow in 1942. At that time there was also a pogrom organised by Ukrainians, and my three uncles were in hiding, looked after by their Polish maid. All of them, including this courageous woman, were murdered (hung on their veranda). Even though she could not save them I still feel indebted to her for her sacrifice.
One of many "polonized" Polish Jew was Julian Tuwim, influential writer and publicist. He sometimes complained (also in his works) that he was attacked by some voices from both Polish (as a Jew) and Jewish (as a traitor) sides.
If it wasn't for tragedy of WWII and nazi ideology implemented in Poland by foregn power (Germany) i do believe we would have learned to live together in a diverse society & enrich our cultures until this day
Not sure about blaming germans and ww2. .before the war, there were pogroms , quotas to schools universities professional bodys.the catholic church spread its own kind of hatred..
@@benief Have you heard about Holocaust, dude?
Poland needs that charming man Back❤️
I absolutely agree with you.
@Alan Oszluk how come?
I lived in in the former Austrian Silesia, Cieszyn Silesia. The thing here is the Jews were mostly integrated to the German culture in the local towns and interestingly up to the rise of Nazis they were often forming coalitions with the Germans in the municipalities, against the Poles. But there was one assimilated Polish Jew from the countryside, who left for Israel in 1936. Then in the 70s he began writing books in Polish there, saying how he misses this land. An interesting discovery for me, he even knew the dialect, his name was Józef Kornblum from Pruchna.
No, ciekawa historia.
1:22 - Many Polish Jews before (and after) WWII become prominent Polish writers and poets: Julian Tuwim, Jan Brzechwa, Antoni Słonimski, Stanisław Lem. It seems Słonimski was a very popular writer in Poland before WWII. Lem survived WWII and become one of the worlds foremost writers of sciene fiction. Brzechwa's and Tuwim's poems for children are untill today taught in schools in Poland. Tuwim was a genius and author of very good political poems such as anti-war manifesto "Do prostego człowieka" (To the simple man) which is ASTONISHINGLY topical today. I recommend to anyone to read it as well as to hear its sung version by Akurat.
Wow what a beautiful interview! What a loss to Poland to lose all those polonized Jews
God Bless him❤️
What an intelligent person.
Both of my grandfathers were in the Russian Army that is where they met. My one Grandfather was from Suwalki and the other Grandfather was from Minsk. They left Europe around 1908 and emigrated to The U.S.A. Not sure if they were Jewish or not. But I often wonder if they did not make that move if I would even be alive today. Something to really think about. I am just wondering if any Jews hid their Jewish heritage when they emigrated?
It’s entirely possible!
How come? my favorite wrighter from childhood was Julian Tuwim polonized Jew and i love him since i first read his children book about locomotive i just find out he was a jew but i love him the same way. Because he clamed to be Polish not jew born in Poland and that's the point here for Poles its doesan't matters if you jew Ukraina or Russian but if you love Poland you are Polish we are not discriminating on religion or nationality why u want to be special?
I'm not sure you are fully acquainted with the history, Izabela. Do you know, for example, about the Numerus clausus?
@@HRLUA Not gonna lie never heard about it I have to check it out.
@@HRLUA Julia. Tuvim wrote a poem we Polish Jews , I gave a text in Polish, but you can find it in English , it is very powerful
@@HRLUA Hi Hrula. I know, Numerus clausus is a form of discrimination by limiting number of Jewish students that can be admitted, used from Russia to USA at the time.
Considering that at the time in ethnically diverse Poland, about 50% of Polish educated/financial elite were Jewish, while roman-catholic Polish being majority of the population had much harder time getting to the university (mostly because of poverty, poor social capital...), one could look at this today in a very different way, not as a simple 1-1 anti-jewish law exemplifying hatered towards Jews, but rather policy of social cohesion. It holds resemblance to Affirmative Action in US, assigning quotas to ethnicities to promote the disadvantaged.
It's still controversial, and proponents of this law were often actual antisemites, but it's not so black-and-white...
@@wojteks4712 Thank you for your clarification. This is so helpful for people to understand the entire situation
My great grandparents Abraham and Leah Kleps came to England from Pozen as it was called in the 1800's.
Alan Cleps Poznań
@@covfefe1787 posen in german
Amazing interview and amazing point of view.
Greetings from Kraków.
Jestem tutaj. Piękna miasta 😻
Always tell you what happened to them, but never why.
Ah, I see. You mean for winning more Nobel prizes per capita than non-Jews in the post-enlightenment developed world; you mean for turning out more doctors, lawyers and academics per capita than non-Jews; you mean for ushering forth something called the Judeo- Christian tradition that has underpinned Western society for 2,000 years, etcetera?