ENGLISH CORNER, CON LINDA JIMÉNEZ – This week’s trivia question: What does Poland’s 10-złoty note have to do with the Jews?

When we think of Jews and Poland, the first things that come to mind are often negative: antisemitism, pogroms and the Holocaust. However, there are many more aspects to Jewish life in Poland throughout the centuries, and now Jewish religious and cultural life are thriving. This week we’re beginning a series of programs about many different aspects of Jewish life in present-day Poland, and we have decided to begin with some historical background.

Franciszek Bojanczyk studies Hebrew and history at Warsaw University. His main areas of interest are history of Zionism in Poland and contacts between Sephardic and Ashkenazi diasporas. He also cooperates with the Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw as a tour guide.

He spoke with us about the history of the Jews in Poland, and this week we’re offering you the first part of that interview. Next week we’ll bring you the second part of our talk with Franciszek.