Jewish Festival in Poland Attracts Thousands

Jewish culture is celebrated each year in Warsaw at the weeklong Singer Festival, named for the Polish-born, Nobel Prize-winning author Isaac Bashevis Singer. For the first time, JDC sponsored a family picnic that opened the September 2007 festival, to attract Jewish families and raise JDC’s visibility in Poland. More than 2,500 people of all generations attended.

One highlight of the picnic included an appearance by celebrity chef Maciej Kuron, who made a cholent (traditional slow-cooked Shabbat stew) for thousands, both Jews and those from the larger community. A klezmer orchestra, a Jewish choir, and a local Jewish folk dance group entertained the families, while Singer fairytales were read to the children by celebrity guests.

Most of the children in attendance also participated in an activity with their parents of building their ‘dream synagogue’ out of Lego pieces. "It was amazing to see what they envisioned," said Monika Elliot, JDC Program Coordinator for Poland and one of the organizers of the picnic.

"This family event was a test and its success was very important," says Monika. "Even with all of the hard work and energy, we will do this again next year because I truly feel this helps Jewish Poles rediscover their Jewish identity and its richness."

More broadly, the festival is very well-received in the Polish community, among Jews and non-Jews, because the music, Yiddish language, and other elements of Jewish life that were so prevalent in Polish society prior to WWII still resonate with the older generation. The Singer Festival is also a model of collaboration among the various Polish Jewish organizations as well as JDC.

"Perhaps the most important element of our project, as well as the entire festival, was to remind participants that Jewish cultural life is not only still alive," says Monika, "but also is something that can be fun, exciting, and enriching."