by tskzHow much of the today’s Polish culture has originated thanks to creators of the Jewish origin? In what way have Polish and Jewish cultures influenced, inspired and shaped each other over the years?
We would like to invite you to our new series of events, The Common Heritage.
The cycle is going to comprise three open events at the Babel Club. During these encounters we will have an opportunity to rediscover our shared history in literature, theatre, music and film art.
We are going to take a close look at the output of such creators as Julian Tuwim and Ida Kamińska, as well as other Jewish artists who made their mark on the development of pre-war cinema and the recording industry.
We will revisit well-known figures and stories, while also rediscovering those that have been overlooked or marginalised over time.
Each such encounter will combine stories about history and culture with artistic performances. Our programme will feature, among other things, dramatic readings, music and songs associated with pre-war cinema, as well as discussions with the audience. The final event will provide an opportunity to reflect on how culture can help us better understand one another, appreciate diversity and challenge various stereotypes.
We would like to present Jewish culture not as something separate from Polish culture, but as an important part of its history and our shared heritage. We also believe that knowledge should lead to direct encounters and dialogue, which is why we invite both members of the Jewish community and all Warsaw residents interested in history and culture.
The Babel Club is an open and welcoming venue where visitors can not only deepen their understanding of Jewish heritage, but also experience it firsthand in a space created by the Jewish community.
The first event, entitled An Interview with Tuwim, will take place on 11 October 2026 at 4:00 p.m.
An Interview with Tuwim is a unique encounter with Julian Tuwim, a poet whom we discover not only through his poems and songs, but above all through his own words from 1924 to 1953.
In an intimate setting, we will listen to Tuwim speak in his own words about poetry, love, infatuation, longing for his homeland, books, friendships and his creative work, as well as his Jewish identity and other issues that mattered to him personally. Drawing on a compilation of archival interviews, the event offers an intimate glimpse into the poet’s personality—a man of passion, sensitivity and wit, but also full of doubts, dilemmas and longing.
This is a story of Tuwim as he truly was: candid, direct and deeply human. At the same time, it is an opportunity to reflect on memory, identity and our relationship with the past. The mixture of poetry, music and intelligent humour create an event that is light in form, yet also raises important questions and creates a long-lasting emotion.
Introduction: Magdalena Majsterkiewicz
Featuring: Ewa Makomaska and Krystian Modzelewski
Musical accompaniment: Wojciech Puszek
Host of the Event: Rafał Dajbor
Admission is free, subject to advance registration via: komunikacja@tskz.pl
Registration opens on 5 October at 12:00 noon.
Places are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Join us for the next event in The Common Heritage series, taking place on 22 November at 4:00 p.m.
The event was made possible thanks to a grant from the Ministry of Interior and Administration
