Recap of the Jubilee Year 2025 Celebrations
For the Social and Cultural Association of Jews in Poland, the year 2025 marks a unique historical milestone: it is then that we will celebrate the 75th anniversary of the organisation, which has been the heart and voice of the Jewish community in Poland since 1950. For seventy-five years, our association has been continuously committed to preserving cultural heritage, promoting integration, combating prejudice and developing Polish-Jewish dialogue. Our anniversary provides an opportunity to honour this multidimensional activity, both by reflecting on the past and looking to the future.
The anniversary celebrations included a series of cultural, educational, social and historical events held in many different cities across Poland, demonstrating the lively presence of the TSKŻ in local communities. The events organised as part of the 75th anniversary celebrations were not only a celebration of history, but also an expression of the contemporary activity of the TSKŻ and its role in the social landscape of Poland.
One of the most significant events was the 15th jubilee edition of the Days of Remembrance in Łódź – the recurrent event held to commemorate the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which has become a permanent feature of the city's cultural and educational calendar. In January, Łódź once again became a place of remembrance, reflection and artistic contemplation on the legacy of the victims of the Holocaust.
The Gala Concert highlighting the 15th Edition of the Days of Remembrance, which took place at the Stefan Jaracz Theatre in Łódź, was a unique and highly impressive artistic event. The lead role was played by American actress and singer of Jewish descent Daniella Rabbani, who, accompanied by pianist Neal Brostoff and Sebastian Wypych’s Trio, presented a deeply moving performance featuring songs in Yiddish. Her show, with its universal message and real emotions, was a musical tribute to the victims of the Holocaust and a way to remember them through art, which can transcend linguistic, cultural, and generational barriers.
The evening was enriched by performances from young artists from the Łódź Sound Factory Youth Choir and talented soloists from Łódź schools, whose participation in the concert was a beautiful testimony to cross-generational communication and a vivid concern for remembrance.
In June, the unique venue of the National Forum of Music in Wrocław hosted a historical concert by the World Jewish Philharmonic – an international project carried out as part of the Polish Presidency of the European Union. Nearly one hundred artists from over thirty countries around the world came together on that stage, united by the shared idea of building bridges through music. The orchestra was conducted by the outstanding conductor Gergely Madaras, and the soloists included world-renowned artists such as Aleksandra Kurzak, Guy Braunstein and Avi Avital.
The repertoire of the evening concert, ranging from Mozart and Puccini, through Marcel Lavry's Jewish dances, to Gustav Mahler's monumental Symphony No. 5, reflected the idea of diversity, openness and universal values that underpinned this extraordinary event.
Another highlight of the jubilee year was the 5th International Assembly of March Emigrants – Reunion’68 which took place in Szczecin from 31 August until 6 September. The event was attended by March migrants from all over the world, including the United States, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Israel and Australia. The agenda of the event covered meetings, lectures, film screenings, concerts and visits at memorial sites. The Reunion was not only a chance to reunite with others after many years, but also an opportunity to reflect upon our shared history and identity. The originator, hostess and good spirit of the event was Róża Król, Chair of TSKŻ Szczecin.
As part of commemoration of the jubilee year, a series of articles written by Marta Rydz were published on our website, and in Słowo Żydowskie monthly. These articles present a summary of the successive decades of our Association’s activities, starting from its post-war inception, through a period of difficult social transformations, to contemporary challenges and achievements, recalling its leaders, local branches and initiatives that shaped Jewish life in Poland after 1945.
As the anniversary year is also a time to recognise achievements, TSKŻ activists who have rendered outstanding service to the Jewish community were honoured with state decorations – Silver Crosses of Merit and the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta. This is not only a personal distinction, but also a symbolic gesture of appreciation for the work of the entire community associated with the TSKŻ. The awards are also a recognition of the unwavering commitment and passion shown by our members over the years.
The celebrations ended with the Gala event held at POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews and the musical climax of the event, the concert ‘Melodies of Generations – די מעלאָדיעס פֿון דורות’, being a sentimental exploration of post-war Polish songs – both Polish and Jewish ones. The concert reveals how Jewish and Polish cultures intertwined in post-war Poland, creating our shared artistic and social experience – often unconscious, but extremely profound. Melodies of Generations is a tribute to heritage, but also a manifesto of unity and mutual inspiration.
The 75th Anniversary of the Social and Cultural Association of Jews in Poland is not only an occasion to exchange memories and conclusion, but it also serves as a testimony of continuity and resilience of values which have been guiding our mission over the last decades. It is a proof that despite multiple hardships and challenges which our community has been facing over the past years, TSKŻ has remained an active part of Polish cultural and social life i.e. the venue where tradition meets modern life, and where the Jewish heritage is passed on to subsequent generations.
The year 2025 will go down in our history as a special time – full of pride in the past, gratitude for our community and inspiration for further action. After 75 years, we continue to look to the future with hope, openness and commitment – ready to write new chapters in this unique narrative.
Find out more about TSKŻ’s 75th Anniversary Gala Event
Find out more about our history:
Please take a look at our series of articles devoted to the history of TSKŻ:
CKŻP – The Central Committee of Polish Jews
The first 18 Years in the History of the Social and Cultural Association of Jews in Poland
„Dos Naje Lebn” – „Nowe Życie”
The History of the Monument in Muranów District
Idisz Buch – A Truly Unique Publishing House
Far from the City, Close to the Community. Jewish Vacation Camps
Scouts on the Pathways Towards Integration
The Club Aspect of TSKŻ’s Activity
Transformations in the Jewish Education in the People’s Republic of Poland
