After the Holocaust, Poland's Jewish community kept a low profile. Today, things are completely different: Young Polish Jews are keen to explore their Jewish roots and live their Jewish identity. With their open attitude, they are taking a stand against hate.
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00:00It's time for a traditional Sunday breakfast at the popular Jewish community centre in
00:06Warsaw. Zofia and Franciszek Bojanczyk are regulars here. Like many young Polish people
00:12in recent years, they are exploring their Jewish roots.
00:30Zofia and Franciszek want their son Konstanty to grow up knowing that he is both Polish
00:45and Jewish. Although Konstanty is not yet able to read, he likes to look at the photos of
00:51his ancestors that were published in a book.
01:13Patrycja Dołowa says that many Polish people only discover their Jewish roots later in
01:17life because of the Holocaust. Before the Holocaust, over 3 million Jews lived in Poland.
01:22Today, about 20,000 people there identify as Jewish.
01:47This is why the Jewish Community Centre offers a range of activities, from courses in Hebrew
02:02to workshops for children, which are run by Teofil Grinberg.
02:20Sharing this knowledge is important for the staff here. Since the Hamas attacks on Israel
02:25on October 7, 2023 and the Israeli response, Jews in Poland are also experiencing hostility.
02:55Although Zofia and Franciszek sometimes encounter anti-Jewish prejudice, they feel very safe
03:12in Poland and see their future as a family here.