http://www2.polskieradio.pl/eo/dokument.aspx?iid=118403
Jewish roots conference opens in Warsaw
21.10.2009
A conference devoted to Jewish roots in Warsaw has opened in Warsaw.
The meeting is organised by the Jewish Historical Institute and aims at reminding Varsovians of the history of the city. Every third inhabitant of Warsaw was Jewish before WWII, while the Jewish community lived in the capital since early Middle Ages.
The head of the institute, Eleonora Bergman, underlined that contemporary inhabitants of Warsaw have a very vague knowledge of the history of the city’s districts and streets.
“Rarely do Varsovians remember streets like Franciszkanska, Twarda or Bonifraterska as Jewish streets. We have to remind that there was a time when these places were the center of the Jewish life in the city,” she said.
The conference, Jews of Warsaw- Warsaw of Jews is the first in a series of meetings prepared by the Jewish Historical Institute to present Warsaw as a center of Jewish cultural, religious and political life. (ab)