Hanukkah guide distributed to 'hidden Jews' in Poland
Shavei Israel organization circulates new, first-of-its-kind Polish-language handbook to Jewish holiday to thousands of Poles who have rediscovered their Jewish ancestry
The Shavei Israel organization has released a new, first-of-its-kind Polish-language guide to the holiday of Hanukkah – entitled "Lights for Polish Jewry" - which was circulated last week free of charge to thousands of "hidden Jews" throughout Poland.
The new book contains the history, laws and customs of this very special festival, as well as a sampling of traditional songs and recipes. It was written and prepared by Rabbi Yitzchak Rapoport, Shavei Israel's emissary to Wroclaw, Poland, and some of the material was translated by Daniela Malec.
Its publication is part of Shavei Israel’s ongoing efforts to reach out to the "hidden Jews" of Poland and assist them as they reconnect with their Jewish roots.
Michael Freund, Shavei Israel Chairman and Founder, said: “In recent years, an increasing number of Poles have rediscovered their Jewish ancestry, seeking to reclaim the precious heritage that was so brutally taken from them and their forebears. It is our hope that this book will, in some small way, enable a new generation of Polish Jews to celebrate Hanukkah with joy, as well as gain a better understanding of our eternal faith, its principles and beliefs".
Many of the 'hidden Jews' have lost all contact with Judaism due to the extreme anti-Semitism that they encountered after the Holocaust, and some of them even converted.
Others concealed their Jewishness from the Communist authorities and now feel free to resume their true identity. Another phenomenon pertains to Jewish young people who were adopted by Catholic families and institutions during the Holocaust. They were told nothing of their Jewish identity, and only in recent years have they or their descendants gradually begun to rediscover it.
Today, around 4,000 Jews are officially registered as living in Poland, but according to various estimates, there are tens of thousands of others who have concealed their true identity, or are simply unaware of it.
Shavei Israel is a non-profit organization founded by Michael Freund, who immigrated to Israel from the United States, with the aim of strengthening ties between the State of Israel and descendants of Jews around the world.
Shavei Israel has three emissaries in Poland who are the spearhead of the organization’s activities there, which include: convening seminars in Poland and Israel for the “hidden Jews"; publishing newsletters and other Polish-language publications on Jewish subjects and distributing them among various communities in Poland; providing assistance with the aliyah, conversion and absorption process for those members of the community in Poland who choose to immigrate to Israel, and more.
