For one night a year, the city’s seven remaining synagogues open themselves up to the public and host everything from a poetry reading to a symbolic multimedia walk through the seven gates of Jerusalem, from a photography exhibition to an Israeli-inspired hummus and grilled vegetable feast in a synagogue courtyard.
Sasha, 24, is still glowing with enthusiasm, energized by the 800-person Havdallah ceremony—the biggest he’s ever seen in Poland—that culminated this October’s Limud learning fest in Warsaw. For a young man who grew up in a secular family in Dzierżoniów, a small Polish town with no Jewish community, seeing this convergence of Jewish life of all denominations and every corner of his country was an unparalleled experience.
A life-changing first trip to Israel inspired Anna to get involved with her Jewish community in Poland. Read how she and other dedicated volunteers teamed up with JDC to bring hundreds of Jews together for a record-breaking Limmud learning fest.
In the former Soviet bloc countries of Central and Eastern Europe, where entire generations were cut off from their Jewish heritage and community life was actively discouraged, Jewish camping is a meaningful and effective outlet for building Jewish awareness and identity among children and families. These “total immersion” Jewish educational experiences have been a key part of JDC’s Jewish renewal activities for more than two decades, helping thousands of people in the region rediscover their Jewish roots and connect to a culturally rich and enduring community.