2012 - Out of door exhibition
The exhibition is fruit of long discussions and common deep conviction that there is a need to remind the present citizens of Warsaw, here and now, about the magnificent tradition of social activism of their city in the hardest centuries in history. The spirit of charity work and philanthropy, the readiness to share with the needy, was characteristic feature of multicultural Warsaw of many faiths, helping to survive the times of political servitude. In today’s capital of Poland, in the natural way more culturally homogenous, we painfully feel the lack of historical continuity (as well as knowledge and memory about the pre-war times) but also spirit of mutual help, kindness and cooperation. Warsaw Jews who since the middle of 19 century till 1942 made up more than 20% of the Warsaw population, for centuries contributed significantly to the modernisation and development of the city. With growing level of assimilation and integration within the Polish society, they included in their charity work not only their poor and needy brothers in faith – according to the high moral standards of the Pentateuch – but also the Warsaw community at large. Warsaw, when it was then under the Russian military administration, was chronically lacking funds, barely managing the problems of famine, illnesses, overpopulation and low standards of hygiene. Jewish philanthropists financed burials, built hospitals, organised children’s nurseries and training courses. Sons of leading bankers became patrons of Polish science and culture, guardians of important publishing enterprises, and funded scholarships for outstanding authors and academics.
Warsaw of today is modern and teaming with life, completely different from the pre-war capital of Poland. The fundamental tissue of its existence has been destroyed, it’s unique atmosphere and people, and even the style of street behaviour. The thread of continuity has been broken. We see how reliable memories about Jewish contribution to the life of the city of two last centuries is gradually vanishing, and the place of the memory, about the hard coexistence, is taken over by stereotypes.
The exhibition, consisting of 20 boards, was presented for a month at Grzybowski Square in Warsaw.
The authors: Prof. Elzbieta Mazur, Prof. Daniel Grinberg, Dr Grazyna Pawlak, Alicja Banna.
Organising the exhibition was possible thanks to the financial support of: The Rothschild Foundation, Jewish Religious Community in Warsaw, Bank Zachodni WBK Foundation, BGŻ Bank Foundation, PKO Polish Bank Foundation and The Leopold Kronenberg Bank Foundation.
The catalogue of the exhibition was published in Polish.