by tskzOctober is the month when the so-called Jewish High Holy Days i.e. Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot are celebrated. As every year, to celebrate the occasion, TSKZ branches across Poland have prepared highly interesting events for their members. Check out our coverage of this year’s autumn cycle of celebrations.
CZĘSTOCHOWA
On 28 September, TSKZ Częstochowa held a celebration of the Jewish High Holy Days. The celebration was opened with a speech by Izabela Sobańska-Klekowska, Branch President, who familiarised the attendees with traditions connected with Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot. The highlight of this year’s celebrations was a musical performance entitled “Come on Fiddler, Let’s Play – Pre-war Tangos in Polish and Jewish Tones” by the band “W Objęciach Tanga”. The festive evening was rounded off with a gala dinner featuring apples with honey, round challah bread and sweet cakes.
WROCŁAW, DZIERŻONIÓW AND LEGNICA – ROSH HASHANAH
On October 5, Forteca agritourism facility in Uciechów hosted representatives of members and supporters of three branches of the Social and Cultural Association of Jews in Poland, namely those based in Wrocław, Dzierżoniów and Legnica. The guests gathered to celebrate the Jewish New Year together. Of course, the celebrations could not lack a sweet treat, of which an apple with honey is an indispensable part. The joint celebration of Rosh Hashanah was accompanied by the sounds of Jewish classical music. Maek Szymanski (flute), Maurycy Huf (piano) and Anna van Dijk appeared on stage.
WROCŁAW – SUKKOT
On 20 October, at the headquarters of the Wrocław Branch of the TSKŻ at ul. Mennicza 1/3, a meeting was held on the occasion of the Feast of Booths (i.e. Sukkot). Members and friends of the Society sat together at the festive table, filled with dishes prepared by Izabela Szpacenko. The shared feast was highlighted by an artistic performance.
ŁÓDŹ
On the occasion of the Jewish High Holy Days, the Łódź Branch of the TSKŻ invited its members to a concert by the tenor of the Silesian Opera, Juliusz Ursyn Niemcewicz, who performed on the stage of the Łask Cultural Centre. The artist performed the most exquisite pieces of Jewish music. The guests were treated to refreshments prepared by the branch chairwoman Magdalena Jureńczyk and the Łask Society of Rural Housewives.
BIELSKO-BIAŁA
On 5 October, a concert was held at the Cultural Centre in Bielsko-Biała. The event was co-organised by the local TSKŻ Branch. The performance was not only an opportunity to welcome the New Year 5785, but also to commemorate the figure of Selma Kurz, a Jewish artist originating from Biała, who managed to conquer European opera stages in the 20th century. A 40-strong orchestra under the baton of Jean-Cloud Hauptman appeared on stage, accompanied by two extremely talented soloists i.e. Olivia Ohl-Szulik and Magdalena Brudzińska.
GLIWICE
A concert organised as part of the autumn Jewish holidays – Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot – took place at the headquarters of TSKŻ Branch in Gliwice branch at ul. Górnych Wałów 13. The event was enhanced by traditional refreshments prepared by Anna Domagała, the branch instructor.
KATOWICE
With regard to the current domestic and political situation in Israel, the members of the Katowice branch of the TSKŻ decided to make this year’s Rosh Hashanah celebrations less festive than usual. Paweł Grabiec, Head of the Branch, acquainted the attendees with the nature and significance of the holiday and the current situation in Israel. Israeli artist Dana Smith performed at the event in an atmosphere suited to the nature of the holiday and the situation, with musical accompaniment by Romuald Gwizdoń. Meanwhile, dining pleasures were catered for by branch members Helena Grzebień, Hanna Katz, Wiktoria Tryścień and Gabriela Kamieńska.
WAŁBRZYCH
As part of the Jewish High Holy Days, members of the Wałbrzych branch of the TSKŻ were invited to a meeting at the Stara Kopalnia Culture and Science Centre to attend a lecture by Tamara Włodarczyk. PhD. The speaker told the audience about Jewish musicians and composers from the interwar period. The event was accompanied by a musical programme – Robert Delegiewicz performed on stage and presented music from the inter-war period. The event was honoured by the presence of the Mayor of the City of Wałbrzych, Roman Szełemej PhD, the Chairwoman of the Cultural Commission Małgorzata Wiłkomirska and the Chairwoman of the German Society Dorotea Stempowski.
WARSAW
On the occasion of the autumn cycle of Jewish holidays, the Warsaw branch of the TSKŻ invited its members and supporters to Babel Club for a unique monodrama performed by Stanisław Górka – “Tevye the Dairyman’s skirmishes with God”. The performance was based on the novel “Tevye the Dairyman” by Sholem Aleichem. The performance was preceded by a short introduction about the meaning and symbolism of Jewish holidays, narrated by Warsaw branch member, Abraham Hayman. The festivities ended with a traditional refreshment, which included challah bread, apples with honey and pomegranate fruit.
A week later, the Babel Club hosted a lecture by Ewa Małkowska-Bieniek, an art historian and exhibition superintendent, who, in the run-up to the High Holidays, tackled the interesting issue of the symbolism of synagogue art.
SZCZECIN
On 5 October, a Christmas meeting was held at TSKŻ Szczecin’s premises, highlighted by a musical performance by Srebrzyści Akordeoniści ensemble. The guests of honour were Anna Frajlich – a poet, lecturer and a long-time Szczecin resident – with her husband Władysław Zając, who celebrated his 84th birthday on that day.
GDAŃSK
As part of the Jewish High Holy Days celebrations, a lecture by Roman Nieczyporowski PhD on “Rosh Hashanah in Polish art and culture” was delivered the headquarters of TSKŻ Gdansk. The lecture was preceded by an extensive introduction about the symbolism of this holiday. After the spiritual feast, the participants started celebrating at a lavishly set table, on which there could be no shortage of honey, apples and pomegranate.
The Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot celebrations were made possible thanks to a grant provided by the Minister of the Interior and Administration.
