BOOKS FOR KRAKOW
Benefits of a Small Congregation

by Rosalind Bronsen

My friends, Bonnie Alpert and Nathan Rome, were in Krakow, Poland in the fall of 2007. By chance, they encountered a young Jewish university student, Kasia Czerwonogora, at an exhibition of Polish nonprofit organizations. Kasia was representing a Polish Jewish young people’s organization called Czulent. The organization’s members are dedicated to discovering and affirming their Jewish identity.

As it says on their website http://www.czulent.pl/en/83/: "It is quite common that young people in Poland find out about their Jewish roots very late. Often it is a big problem for them, and they do not know how to deal with it. Sometimes, Jewish origin is a deep hidden family secret. The feeling of alienation they experience might be a big obstacle in their acceptance of Jewishness."

As part of their exploration, Czulent established in 2005 the Rabbi Remuh Jewish Library. At the time of my friends’ trip, the library had about 2,000 volumes and some magazines. When asked how to help, the answer was send books.

I was very moved by the story of Czulent. Just two generations after the destruction of almost the entire Jewish population in Poland, here were Jewish young people emerging to reclaim their Jewish identity. What a testament to Jewish spirit and survival.

When I began communicating with the librarian, Ishbel Szatrawska, it became clear they were looking for books that reflected contemporary Jewish life. “The main problem for us is to deal with the many burning questions of our time from the perspective of Judaism, Jewish philosophy, Jewish tradition and values, and Jewish feminism.” Another way of putting it, is they want to know how Jews have contributed to and been impacted by the most controversial issues of the post-WWII period?

When I presented this to Shir Hadash, the havurah provided great support. From the Social Action Committee, Joyce Hollman stepped forward to become my invaluable co-leader. Naomi Myrvaagnes, approached Dr. Shulamit Reinharz, Director of the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute and of the Women’s Studies Research Center, who generously sent the complete set of their publications (22 books on exactly the right topics.) Ishbel reported that receiving this collection was a "dream come true."

Shir Hadash members responded generously with donations of books and magazines and contributions used to purchase new books. The Shir Hadash Executive Committee allocated almost $1,000 from our 25th anniversary tzedakah fund to cover the cost of shipping.

On July 22, we shipped 180 books in the categories of Non-fiction, Religion and Philosophy, History, Literature, and Children, and 62 magazines. With this project we increased the collection of the Rabbi Remuh Jewish Library by 10%!

This experience very much highlights a great strength of Shir Hadash. A single member can follow a “Jewish” passion and get the help and support needed to bring about such a successful conclusion. This is what you can accomplish in a small congregation.