Noemi, Varvara and Devora are three young women who were all on the periphery of the Jewish community in Katowice, Poland – interested but mostly isolated. Moreover they all faced financial difficulties, which made them personally and spiritually vulnerable. Their futures looked uncertain at best...
Shavei Israel has teamed up with the online Jewish learning portal WebYeshiva to offer 7 new virtual classes. Starting this Thursday, four of Shavei’s emissaries will be offering “live” two-way interactive classes in Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and Italian to students anywhere in the world with...
Last weekend, Shavei Israel organized an extraordinary Shabbaton for the Hidden Jews of Poland in the town of Oscwiecim, adjacent to the Auschwitz death camp. The seminar, which was attended by close to 50 local Jews, also included several members of the press who flew...
[caption id="attachment_11167" align="alignleft" width="300"] Studying at the Chevra Lomdei Mishnayot synagogue in Oscwiecim[/caption] OSWIECIM – Until four years ago, 20-year-old Krzysztof had no idea he was Jewish. He grew up Catholic, went to church every Sunday and celebrated all the Christian holy days. Then, one Christmas eve,...
Every year on Yom HaShoah, Israel’s Holocaust Memorial Day, which this year begins on the evening of April 7, 2013, thousands of Jewish teens, adults and survivors from around the world participate in the March of the Living, a two week trip to Poland, which...
[caption id="attachment_10979" align="alignleft" width="300"] Seder in Krakow March 24 (photo credit: Nissan Tzur)[/caption] KRAKOW – Seventy years after most of Polish Jewry died in the Holocaust, it seems that Jewish life in Poland is experiencing a revival. More than 150 people gathered at the Jewish Community Center...
Some 40 “Hidden Jews” of Poland gathered last month in the town of Lodz for a weekend seminar sponsored by Shavei Israel. We've assembled the best photos in the following galleries Pictures from the trip [nggallery id=223] Havdalah ceremony [nggallery id=218] Melave Malka at the conclusion of Shabbat [nggallery id=220] Meals during the...
Some 40 “Hidden Jews” of Poland gathered last month in the town of Lodz for a weekend seminar sponsored by Shavei Israel. The Shabbaton was geared specifically for graduates of previous Shavei seminars for Polish Jews, including our three-week program in Israel last summer. We...
Purim in Katowice, Poland was particularly festive this year with Shavei Israel's emissary Rabbi Yehoshua Ellis at the helm. Here are a selection of pictures, including dance performances, reading of the megillah (the Scroll of Esther), a festive meal and flock of fanciful costumes. [nggallery id=224] La...
