Over two hundred and forty events are on the programme of the annual Festival of Jewish Culture which opens in Krakow tonight.

They comprise concerts, workshops, exhibitions, film shows, poetry readings, Jewish cuisine and tours of the sites connected with the city’s Jewish heritage and of the former Jewish ‘shtetls’ in the Kraków region. The concerts give insights into all trends in Jewish music and featured  artists include Cantor Chaim Louk, Arkady Gendler and Matisyahu, an Orthodox Chassidic Jew who sings Biblical songs in the style of reggae, rap and hip-hop.

The Festival of Jewish Culture in Krakow is one of the world’s major events presenting Jewish culture and tradition. Launched in 1988, this year it is held for the 20th time (it was not organized in 1989 and 1993). 

Setting the scene for the event, which last until 4 July, The Jerusalem Post wrote: ‘For Poles who have been developing an extraordinary curiosity for all things Jewish, and are becoming increasingly aware of Jewish contributions to Polish culture, Krakow has become the temporary well of knowledge where they can quench their thirst. It’s amazing, but they come from all over Poland, and those who have two drops of Jewish blood that they might have once been ashamed of, now acknowledge that genetic ancestry with pride’. (mk)

Related link: www.jewishfestival.pl

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