Tehillim - Psalms. A Jewish and Christian treasury of prayers

Tehillim - Psalms. A Jewish and Christian treasury of prayers

On 26.04.2024 in the Municipal Library in Mszana Dolna, the first meeting of the third edition of our educational project 'The Story of the Bicultural, Pre-War Mszana Dolna' took place. The event concentrated on the Book of Psalms. This biblical book is perhaps the one that unites Jews and Christians the most, in prayer and reflection, as well as being a treasure of all human culture.

The topic was presented from two perspectives: theological and literary; participants were also invited to recite the psalms together and sing a selected passage in Hebrew. Everyone present could draw a psalm for themselves, prepared in the form of a small roll.

In our town, psalms used to resound in Hebrew in the synagogue and Jewish homes, and in Polish in church and Catholic homes. During the two-part lecture by Urszula Antosz-Rekucka, a theologian, and Jakub Antosz-Rekucki, a linguist, selected psalms  were sung, accompanied by accordion and guitar, performed in both Polish and Hebrew. An excerpt from Psalm 122, which we sang together in Hebrew, was translated into as follows: "For the sake of my brothers and friends, I pray for peace for you". These words could actually become the motto of our entire project. The descendants of the Jews of Mszana who were watching us were very moved by the fact that the Hebrew prayer resounded again in the town of their ancestors.

The meeting was streamed so that it could be followed by many people in Poland and abroad. The recording, with English subtitles, will soon be made available on the channel https://www.youtube.com/@sztetlmszanadolna

Participants were also traditionally treated to challah, hummus and other delicacies.

The meeting was also an opportunity to thank the Mayor, Anna Pękala, who had extended her patronage and personal kindness to our events over the previous years. Sztetl Mszana Dolna also received beautiful thanks and good wishes from her.

Subsidised by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage as part of the programme of the National Centre of Culture.

EtnoPolska. Edition 2024.

The event was co-organised by the Mszana Dolna Municipal Library and the Mszana Dolna Senior+ Club.

We would like to thank our old, but also new, friends for coming to the Library, as well as those who enjoyed the online broadcast in large numbers - your warm comments convince us that it is worth it 🙂 .

Photos by: Rachela Antosz-Rekucka, Marek Rekucki, Henryk Musiał