About the "Jerusalem Syndrome" in our educational project

On the 4th of August 2023, in the Meeting Room of the Town Hall in Mszana Dolna, the fifth meeting in this year's edition of our educational project "The Story of the Bicultural, Pre-War Mszana Dolna" took place. It was about the phenomenon of the so-called Jerusalem Syndrome. This is a type of mental disorder associated with arrival in the eponymous city, manifesting in an acute psychotic state.

At the beginning, we listened to an instrumental version of 'Yerushalaim Shel Zahav', played on the accordion by Jakub Antosz-Rekucki. In the meantime, we displayed photos from our travels to the holy city. We also paused for a moment to reflect on the content of this remarkable song, about Jerusalem "made of gold", which almost became the anthem of Israel, its links with the Book of Psalms and its similar message to our "Invocation" (by Adam Mickiewicz). In the main part of the meeting, a young psychologist, Rachela Antosz-Rekucka, explained the specifics of the phenomenon of the eponymous Jerusalem Syndrome and then answered questions from the participants. The talk were accompanied by a tasting of Israeli flavours: hummus with zatar from Jerusalem, pistachio cookies, challah and Israeli-style tea and coffee with cardamom.

Questions and voices from the audience rounded things off. We would like to thank the participants for the communal atmosphere, sharing their own memories, thoughts, involvement and kindness.

The event was held under the patronage of the Mayor, Ms Anna Pękała, who also hosted us within the walls of the Mszana Dolna Town Hall. The event was co-financed by funds from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage within the framework of the programme EtnoPolska National Cultural Centre. Edition 2023.

We would like to invite you again on 14.08.2023 at 5 p.m. to the Municipal Library - this time for the 'Watercolour point of view': the vernissage of an exhibition of works and a meeting with their author, Magdalena Komenza-Regnard.