We read Jewish poetry and summed up oureducational project

On 13.12.2024, the dream of Samuel Hirszhorn, the author of the ‘Anthology of Jewish Poetry’, who tragically died over 100 years ago, came true at the Mszana Dolna Municipal Library. This man, social activist and member of the Second Polish Sejm (parliament) translated into Polish works of poets writing in Yiddish and Hebrew in order to bring together ‘nations living on the same land who know very little about each other’. And he regarded literature as one of the best means to do so. Jewish authors writing in Polish, the greatest ones such as Tuwim, Leśmian, Brzechwa or Słonimski, have entered the canon of our literature. Few, however, are familiar with the poetic works of Bialik, Peretz, Chernichowski, Ulianower, Rosenfeld, Friszman, Fichman and many others.

Samuel Hirszhorn published this anthology in 1921, while in 1942, he was killed during one of the ‘liquidation actions’ in the Warsaw ghetto.

By a remarkable coincidence, among the three books of the Jewish Reading Room in Mszana Dolna, that survived the wartime, was this one. A touching testimony has also been preserved on it - the signature of Naftali Chaim Zins, the son of a baker from Mszana. He is also a tragic Victim of the Holocaust, and his - mady by a youthful hand - signature was an additional obligation to remember the Jewish inhabitants of Mszana Dolna and their contribution to the cultural development of the town. After all - according to the Inventory of the Ministry of Religious Denominations and Public Enlightenment, Educational Libraries as of 1 January 1930, the Jewish Reading Room was the oldest of the 3 public libraries in the town, and had more volumes than the other two.

More than a dozen townspeople responded to our invitation to read together, which we regarded as a kind of fulfilment of Samuel Hirszhorn's will. We are extremely grateful for their involvement and participation. Also, a large group of listeners. The active presence of the Mayor, Agnieszka Orzeł, and the Library Director, Aneta Mazgaj, was extremely significant.

The reading of various types of poetry - from nostalgic and tragic poems to humorous epigrams - was enhanced by the presentation of traditional Jewish songs by Jakub Antosz-Rekucki.

At the end, we sang a passage from Psalm 122 in Hebrew, which speaks of a common concern for peace and good for others. There was a traditional Shabbat challah and other refreshments.

The meeting was also an opportunity to briefly summarise the 3rd Edition of the project ‘The Story of the Bicultural, Pre-War Mszana Dolna’, within which it was held. In 2024, the project included 9 public events, among them lectures, concerts, workshops, a trip, during which a group of city residents also visited the grave of the aforementioned Naftali Zins in Krakow's cemetery on Miodowa Street. The project, which started in 2022, already comprises a total of 43 educational and cultural events! We hope to continue it in the coming year.

Both the meeting itself and the entire project were held under the Honorary Patronage of the Mayor of the City, and co-financed by the Association of the Jewish Historical Institute in Poland.

Photos by Rachela Antosz-Rekucka & Marek Rekucki