Summary of the project ‘The Story of the Jewish Cemetery in Mszana Dolna. Edition 2024’ with the opening of an exhibition of paintings created at the cemetery

On 25.10.2024, in the Mszana Dolna Municipal Library, we summarised this year's edition of the educational project ‘The Story of the Jewish Cemetery in Mszana Dolna’. It was combined with the vernissage of an exhibition of paintings created during the September workshop at the same cemetery, led by Magdalena Komenza-Regnard. This was also an opportunity to thank the volunteers and other people involved in the project.

 A total of 204 people took part in the educational events, workshops and guided tours of the cemetery. Thirty-seven volunteers worked on the cleaning of the necropolis; twenty three of them were students from local schools. Our Foundation cooperated with 5 schools from the town and municipality of Mszana Dolna: there were 3 meetings, guided tours of the cemetery and cleaning works. Seventeen participants created artwork at the workshop, and its effects can be viewed in the Library for the next month.

The meeting began with a lecture by theologist Urszula Antosz-Rekucka on customs related to remembering the dead in Judaism. The numerous participants had the opportunity to learn about its ways of commemorating and remembering the dead.  They found out, among other things, what a jahrzeit is, how it is celebrated, why a pebble is the most appropriate sign of remembrance and what its mystical significance is, and what unusual ceremonies were sometimes held in Jewish cemeteries.

The participants learned about some interesting cemeteries in Poland and Israel, the phenomenon of Hasidic pilgrimages to the graves of tzaddikim. They also learned the difference between a matzeva and an ohel, what ancient ossuaries were, and why one should wear a headdress to a Jewish cemetery.

The lecture was followed by the screening of 2 short films: from a guided tour of the Jewish cemetery as part of the European Heritage Days, and from a September painting workshop. Another presentation summarised the activities of the project, including the efforts made to save the cemetery.

At the end, diplomas and small gifts were presented to workshop participants, volunteers and other individuals involved in the project.

There was also the traditional challah treat; this time in the shape of a Bible scroll, due to the festival of the Joy of the Torah - Simchat Torah, during which the Creator is thanked for the Scriptures.

The project has formally come to an end, but an online training course on the rules of behaviour at Jewish cemeteries will still be held in the near future for those who have not taken advantage of our other trainings but would like to visit Jewish memorials.

The event was broadcast online on the FB profile of Sztetl Mszana Dolna

The event, like the entire project, received the Honorary Patronage of the Town Mayor Agnieszka Orzeł

Co-financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage as part of the programme of the National Heritage Institute - Together for Heritage

Photos: Rachela Antosz-Rekucka, Urszula Antosz-Rekucka, Marek Rekucki, Agnieszka Józefiak-Lewandowska