Bałaban History

1.1. Oldest News about the Jews in Kraków

Bałaban, History 2021-06-13

BS”D 3 Tamuz 5781 We are now publishing a chapter by chapter summary of Majer Bałaban’s Historia Żydow w Krakowie i na Kazimierzu 1304-1868 (Kraków, “Nadzieja”, 1931) – History of the Jews in Kraków and in Kazimierz – which will be able to be found under the category “Bałaban” and “History”. We express our hopes that it might be useful. This is chapter one, tome one, pages three to fifteen, titled “Oldest News about the Jews in Kraków” The Jewish community in Krakow is, according to the author, not the oldest in Poland. Jews came to what is now Poland both from the West and the East, those in Krakow settling mostly from the West. Jews, however, were in Poland since the end of the 11th century. The oldest document…

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Community Life

Community Life – 1 Tamuz 5781

Community Life 2021-06-11

BS”D 1 Tamuz 5781 From our weekly life First of all, please accept my renewed bestest wishes for the new month. I hope the weather will stay warm and everyone will be able to enjoy the summer. The Community has been providing for centuries for our members in Kraków. In spite of wars, pogroms and medical emergencies, we have kept a safe place where Jews could feel at home. Language lessons, medical help, a meeting place for, in which we can meet and chat, the community is a haven for the troubles of daily life and the centre of Jewish life in Kraków. It seems sad to me that there are organisations that, using Judaism, seek self-promotion and claim that Judaism had, before their advent, disappeared from Kraków. This is…

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Mussar

7. Vigilance

Mussar 2021-06-10

BS”D 30 Sivan 5781 Hodesh tov! Today we start Chapter 2 of Mesillas Yesharim, a chapter called “The Virtue of Vigilance”. R. Luzzatto begins by stating that the concept of vigilance refers to being careful about one’s actions. One should think about one’s actions and whether they are good or not. R. Luzzatto mentions being vigilant about one’s habits and not repeat them without thinking about them. Examining one’s habits is very important. Repetition leads to inattention and carelessness. One can begin to take things for granted and not be thankful everyday for one’s blessings. In the second paragraph R. Luzzatto states that paying attention would actually be common sense. Somebody who has minimal understanding should try to save himself and not lose his soul. R. Luzzatto asserts also that…

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Health

Transgenerational Transmission of Trauma in Survivors of the Shoah

Health 2021-06-10

BS”D 30 Sivan 5781 Post-traumatic distress syndrome is classified under F43.1 in the International Classification of Diseases. Its symptoms are usually flashbacks, nightmares and sleep disturbances. The patients display social distancing, lack of sympathy and a difficulty to feel positive emotions, as well as “emotional numbness” and are easily aroused, having exaggerated reactions to certain stimuli. The first generation will often display arterial hypertension, chronic pains, digestive complains and a lack of affect as well as depression and feelings of guilt. Common symptoms in the second generation are role-switching (feeling to have been the actual Shoah victim) with additional feelings of guilt and shame. They see themselves as “living memorial candles” and act accordingly. They have a higher psychological vulnerability and higher dependence. Neuroses, anxiety, fears and personality disorders are…

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Anniversaries

Memorial Day for Jews of Dębica

Anniversaries 2021-06-10

The Memorial Day for Jews of Dębica is organized by Ireneusz Socha each year to mark the first liquidation action in the local ghetto that took place on July 21, 1942. AGENDA July 21, 2021, Dębica 18:00 Former ghetto area (corner of Kosciuszki and Glowackiego Streets) Commemoration of 12,000 Polish Jews, including more than 2,000 Jews of Dębica, who were imprisoned in the local ghetto, made forced laborers and then were exterminated in the city or at the death camps in Bełżec and Auschwitz. May their memory be a blessing! May their souls be bound up in the bond of eternal life! 19:00 Willa Wiluszowka Hotel Synagogue in the life of a Jewish community – a lecture by Patrycja Pogoda  Jewish inspirations – solo improvisations by Bartlomiej Prucnal – saxophones …

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