There were more than a thousand shtetls in today’s territories of Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania and Belarus. The Second World War and the Holocaust obliterated the world of shtetls completely. Today, in Opatów—as well as in tens of other Polish towns—there are no more Jews left.
The OPOLIN Museum’s new temporary exhibition titled (post) JEWISH… demonstrates that Polish towns hide two parallel histories. The history of their Polish inhabitants is well known and remembered. The one of their Jewish neighbours who are no more is forgotten or left unsaid.
Guide in the exhibition will be the late Mayer Kirshenblatt, a painter who emigrated to Canada with his mother and brothers as a teenager, in 1934. Mayer recalls the shtetl of his youth, restoring vivid memories of the people, events, daily life and customs. His paintings—full of color, imagination and humor—show us a world that is no more. Looking at them, we learn about our shared Polish-Jewish history.
The exhibition also features a documentation of artistic interventions carried out in today’s Opatów, aimed at discovering and restoring the vestiges of the pre-war Jewish life.
Six month “Heritage Season” of Events (Ceremonial, Concerts, Lectures, Meal, Performances, Talks, Tours, and Walks) to mark the 150th Anniversary of Princes Road Synagogue.
Themes:
September 2024 – People & Place;
October 2024 – Charity & Philanthropy and Rituals;
November 2024 – Civil life; December 2024 – Education & Learning;
January 2025 – Trade & Occupations; February 2025 – Art & Culture
The program is evolving.
Click here to see the program as events are confirmed.
NOTE: Tickets for all events must be reserved in advance.
To apply for tickets, please complete the application for tickets form here.
The Stone Research, Conservation, and Restoration Camp is a unique experience that will take place from September 23 to 30, in Țara Făgărașului, Southern Transylnvaina. Together with stone preservation expert Dr. Sidonia Olea volunteers will work on stone conservation and restoration at the Jewish Cemetery in Făgăraș and in several Christian Orthodox cemeteries in the region. The aim of the Stone Restoration Camp is to form a team dedicated to intervention, rescue, and maintenance of stone monuments and heritage in Tara Fagarasului.
Conserving and restoring funeral monuments is aimed at safeguarding as well as avoiding their loss. Degradation is a phenomenon that cannot be controlled and which in time affects funeral monuments. It is the obligation of restorers to intervene in time to save such monuments from destruction. Often, emergency interventions are needed in graveyards, given the advanced state of degradation of many funeral monuments.
Coordinated by Dr. Olea and heritage activists Dr. Stefan Cibian, this camp is open to all interested in contributing to the conservation and promotion of cultural heritage. The event will take place in person and will offer participants the opportunity to engage in a variety of practical restoration activities and learn from experts in the field.
To attend, register here.
INSTRUCTORS
Dr. Sidonia Olea
A series of events marks the 10th anniversary of POLIN — the Museum of the History of Polish.
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