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The 26th Edition of Simcha Jewish Culture Festival in 2024

The 26th Edition of Simcha Jewish Culture Festival in 2024
August 06, 2024
tskz by tskz

On 20-26 July 2024, the 26th Edition of the SIMCHA Jewish Culture Festival will be held at the White Stork Synagogue in Wrocław. The Festival is regarded as of the major cultural events of the Lower Silesia, and the third largest Jewish festival in Poland. For more than 25 years, the Festival promotes the Jewish cultural heritage, by combining art, history and human interactions. Like every year, the Social and Cultural Association of Jews in Poland will be co-hosting the Festival, and TSKŻ Wrocław branch prepared a number of interesting events.

The central theme of this year’s edition of the Festival is the life and heritage of Abraham Geiger, in connection with the 150th anniversary of his death. For some time, Geiger used to  be the rabbi of the Wrocław synagogue, but became well-known as a prominent reformer of the Judaic faith.

As a member of the so-called Reform movement, Geiger advocated the use of the German language in religious services and the moderation of some Orthodox practices, while retaining others such as circumcision. He advocated for the return to the authentic Judaism based on ethics.

Geiger worked as a rabbi in Frankfurt and Berlin. He contributed to the establishment of the Higher Institute for Jewish Studies in Berlin. He died in 1874, but his heritage still affects the shape of the contemporary Jewish philosophy and religious practices. Geiger has demonstrated that faith and mind can engage in a fruitful dialogue.

THE AGENDA OF THE 26TH EDITION OF THE SIMCHA JEWISH CULTURE FESTIVAL

20.07. | Saturday | THE KLEZMER HAVDALAH

  • 19:00– THE OPENING OF THE EXHIBITION: “The Returns” / A project by Goethe-Institut Krakau and Kulturopracownia.
    • The presentation is made by: Dorota Krakowska, Project Coordinator.
    • The Venue: The Theatre Museum. Admission is free.
  • 22:16– THE KLEZMER HAVDALAH: The NeoKlez Concert
    • The Artists: Stanisław Leszczyński (violin, keyboard), Damian Szymczak (clarinet), Piotr Tomala (accordion), Kacper Bardzki (bass guitar, keyboard), Kamil Wróblewski (drums, SPD-SX).
    • The Venue: The White Stork Synagogue.
    • Tickets: PLN 70 (full price), PLN 50 (reduced price).

21.07. | Sunday | THE FAIR

  • 10:00– THE JEWISH FAIR
    • The Venue: The Yard
    • All-day event. Admission is free.
  • 11:00– SIMCHA FOR CHILDREN: Art Classes “The Tent of Creation”.
    • The Tutor: Jolanta Stanisz (TSKŻ).
    • The Venue: The Basement of the Synagogue. Admission is free.
  • 12:00– OP_WALKS: a guided tour: “Putting Things Back Where They Belong. Jewish Breslauers and Their Artefacts” (Exhibition at OP ENHEIM) and “The Return” (A project by Goethe-Institut and Kulturopracownia, Exhibition at the Theatre Museum in Wrocław.
    • Admission is free.
    • Booking: org.
  • 13:00– SIMCHA FOR CHILDREN: Yiddish song family classes.
    • Hosted by: Sylwia Lubiejewska.
    • The Venue: The Basement of the Synagogue.
    • Admission is free.
  • 14:00– SIMCHA FOR CHILDREN: A workshop titled “Making Theatre – In the Footsteps of Ida Kamińska”.
    • Hosted by: Jolanta Stanisz (TSKŻ).
    • The Venue: The Basement of the Synagogue.
    • Admission is free.
  • 16:00– SIMCHA ON FOOT: “In search of the Jewish Riverfront on the Oder”.
    • By Tamara Włodarczyk (TSKŻ).
    • Admission is free.
    • Booking: Evenea.
  • 17:00– A Lecture: “The 150th Anniversary of Death of Abraham Geiger, the Co-Founder of Reform Judaism”.
    • The Lecturer: Jerzy Kichler (Board Member of the Jewish Religious Community in Wrocław).
    • The Venue: The Prayer Hall.
    • Admission is free.
  • 18:30– THE OPENING OF THE EXHIBITION: “Anne Frank. The Story as for Today”.
    • The Venue: Matroneum of the Synagogue.
    • Admission is free.
  • 20:00– THE CONCERT: KAJA MIANOWANA & GANG TANGO.
    • The Artists: Kaja Mianowana (vocals), Anna Wandtke (violin), Piotr Kopietz (bandoneone), Mirosław Feldgebel (piano), Sebastian Wypych (double bass).
    • The Venue: The White Stork Synagogue.
    • Tickets: PLN 70 (full price), PLN 50 (reduced price).
  • 20:30– THE SIMCHA CINEMA: “Shoelaces”, directed by Jacob Goldwasser, Israel 2018.
    • Film screening as part of the Israeli Embassy Film Club.
    • Foreword by Martyna Stec (The Critical Education Association).
    • The Venue: The Theatre Museum.
    • Admission is free.
  • 21:45– THE ISRAELI DANCE CLASSES.
    • The Teacher: Hanna Łukaszewicz-Gulanowska.
    • The Venue: The Yard
    • Admission is free.

22.07. Monday

  • 15:00– THE HEBREW LANGUAGE CLASSES.
    • The Tutor: Tomasz Duda, MA (Department of Jewish Studies, University of Wrocław).
    • The Venue: The Basement of the Synagogue.
    • Admission is free.
  • 16:00– SIMCHA ON FOOT: “Following in the Footsteps of Willi Cohn”.
    • By Urszula Rybicka (Żydoteka).
    • Admission is free.
    • Booking: Evenea.
  • 17:30– The Lecture: “Rabbi Manuel Joël – (Un)worthy Successor of Abraham Geiger”.
    • The Lecturer: Agata Rybińska (UMCS Lublin).
    • The Venue: The Mikvah.
    • Admission is free.
  • 17:30– THE SIMCHA CINEMA: “Jakub Rotbaum”, directed by Artur Hofman, Poland, 1993.
    • Film screening combined with the meeting with the director.
    • The Host: Tamara Włodarczyk.
    • The Venue: TSKŻ.
    • Admission is free.
  • 20:00– THE CONCERT: THE SYNAGOGUE CHANTS.
    • Israel Nachman Turgeman (cantor, Israel), The White Stork Synagogue Choir, Wrocław, Piotr Rojek (organ, piano), Stanisław Rybarczyk (conductor).
    • The Venue: The White Stork Synagogue.
    • Tickets: PLN 70 (full price), PLN 50 (reduced price).
  • 21:45– THE ISRAELI DANCE CLASSES.
    • The Teacher: Hanna Łukaszewicz-Gulanowska.
    • The Venue: The Yard.
    • Admission is free.

23.07. | Tuesday

  • 15:00– THE HEBREW LANGUAGE CLASSES.
    • The Tutor: Tomasz Duda (The Department of Jewish Studies, University of Wrocław).
    • The Venue: The Basement of the Synagogue.
    • Admission is free.
  • 16:00– THE LITERARY MEETINGS: Agnieszka Dobkiewicz “The Post-Jewish Ones”.
    • The Host: Urszula Rybicka (Żydoteka).
    • The Venue: The Mikvah.
    • Admission is free.
  • 16:00– The Lecture: “Presentation of Jewish-themed TikTok videos prepared by the Warsaw Ghetto Museum as a new way to raise young people’s awareness of difficult issues”.
    • The Lecturer: Masza Makarova (The Warsaw Ghetto Museum).
    • The Venue: Mleczarnia Club
    • Admission is free.
  • 18:00– The Lecture: “The Jewish Prayer Books of the 19th Century Wrocław – The Challenges of Acculturation”.
    • The Lecturer: Agata Rybińska, PhD (UMCS Lublin).
    • The Venue: The Basement of the Synagogue.
    • Admission is free.
  • 18:30– BAY MIR BISTU SHEYN – Joint singing of Jewish songs and hits of the interwar period.
    • The Hosts: Inge Dinesen and Leopold Galicki (TSKŻ).
    • The Venue: Mleczarnia Club
    • Admission is free.
  • 20:00– THE CONCERT IN MEMORY OF ABRAHAM GEIGER.
    • Isidoro Abramowicz (cantor, Germany) and Berlin Pestalozzistrasse Synagogue Choir (Germany), Jakub Stefek (organ), Stanisław Rybarczyk (conductor).
    • The Venue: The White Stork Synagogue
    • Tickets: PLN 70 (full price), PLN 50 (reduced price).
  • 20:30– THE SIMCHA CINEMA: “The Antique Restorer”, directed by Yosii Madmoni, Israel 2011. The screening is held as part of the Israeli Embassy Film Club.
    • The Foreword: Martyna Stec (The Critical Education Association).
    • The Venue: The Theatre Museum.
    • Admission is free.
  • 21:45– THE ISRAELI DANCE CLASSES. The Teacher: Hanna Łukaszewicz-Gulanowska.
    • The Venue: The Yard.
    • Admission is free.

24.07. | Wednesday

  • 15:00– THE YIDDISH LANGUAGE CLASSES.
    • The Tutor: Anna Kałużna (The Department of Jewish Studies, University of Wrocław).
    • The Venue: The Basement of the Synagogue.
    • Admission is free.
  • 16:00– SIMCHA ON FOOT: “In the Footsteps of Jewish Women”.
    • The event hosted by 1st year students at the Department of Jewish Studies (The Department of Jewish Studies, University of Wrocław).
    • Admission is free.
    • Booking: Evenea.
  • 17:00– THE COOKING CLASSES: “A Story of Jewish Cuisine and Enjoying Jewish Food Together”.
    • The Host: Iza Szpacenko (TSKŻ).
    • The Venue: TSKŻ.
    • Admission is free.
    • Booking: Evenea.
  • 18:00– THE LITERARY MEETINGS: Professor Marcin Wodziński, Professor Joanna Degler, Agnieszka Jagodzińska, PhD (The Department of Jewish Studies, University of Wrocław.) – “Autobiographies of Polish Jews”.
    • The Host: Monika Jaremków (The Department of Jewish Studies, University of Wrocław).
    • The Venue: Mediateka.
    • Admission is free.
  • 20:00– THE CONCERT: ALMA SEFARDI.
    • Magdalena Lechowska (vocals), Damian Kowaliński (flamenco guitar), Mikołaj Kostka (violin), Patryk Zakrzewski (drums).
    • The Venue: The White Stork Synagogue.
    • Tickets: PLN 70 (full price), PLN 50 (reduced price).
  • 20:30– KINO SIMCHA: “The Matchmaker”, directed by Avi Nesher, Israel 2010. The film screening is part of the Israeli Embassy Film Club.
    • The Foreword: Martyna Stec (The Critical Education Association).
    • The Venue: The Theatre Museum.
    • Admission is free.
  • 21:45– THE ISRAELI DANCE CLASSES.
    • The Teacher: Hanna Łukaszewicz-Gulanowska.
    • The Venue: The Yard
    • Admission is free.

25.07. | Thursday

  • 15:00– THE YIDDISH LANGUAGE CLASSES.
    • The Tutor: Anna Kałużna, PhD (The Department of Jewish Studies, University of Wrocław).
    • The Venue: The Basement of the Synagogue.
    • Admission is free.
  • 16:00– SIMCHA ON FOOT: “The Old Jewish Cemetery at ul. Ślężna 37/39”.
    • The Host: Renata Wilkoszewska-Krakowska, PhD (The City Museum of Wrocław).
    • Admission is free.
    • Booking: Evenea.
  • 17:30– The Lecture: “Smile is Healthy – The Amazing Career of Jigan and Shumacher”.
    • The Lecturer: Yuri Vedenyapin, PhD.
    • The Venue: TSKŻ.
    • Admission is free.
  • 20:00– THE CONCERT: REBECCA.
    • Izabela Szafrańska (vocals), Miłosz Wośko (piano), Marcin Drabik (violin), Przemysław Skałuba (clarinet, duduk, saxophone).
    • The Venue: The White Stork Synagogue.
    • Tickets: PLN 70 (full price), PLN 50 (reduced price).
  • 20:30– THE SIMCHA CINEMA: “The Unorthodox”, directed by Eliran Malka, Israel 2018. The screening is held as part of the Israeli Embassy Film Club.
    • The Foreword: Martyna Stec (The Critical Education Association).
    • The Venue: The Theatre Museum.
    • Admission is free.
  • 21:45– THE ISRAELI DANCE CLASSES.
    • The Teacher: Hanna Łukaszewicz-Gulanowska.
    • The Venue: The Yard.
    • Admission is free.

26.07. | Friday | The Sabbath

  • 15:00– THE BIBLICAL HEBREW LANGUAGE CLASSES.
    • The Tutor: Łukasz Krzyszczuk, MA (The Department of Jewish Studies, University of Wrocław).
    • The Venue: The Basement of the Synagogue.
    • Admission is free.
  • 16:00– SIMCHA ON FOOT: The District of Mutual Respect of the Four Faiths.
    • By Professor Adam Jezierski, PhD Hab. (University of Wrocław).
    • Admission is free.
    • Booking:
  • 17:30– The Lecture: “Introduction to the Sabbath Liturgy”.
    • The Lecturer: Jerzy Kichler (Board Member of the Jewish Religious Community in Wrocław).
    • The Venue: Matroneum of the Synagogue.
    • Admission is free.

The hosts reserve the right to introduce changes in the agenda.

Tickets and Booking Procedure

Concert tickets are available either online and directly at relevant venues. Although the admission to many events is available free of charge, in the case of certain workshops and guided tours you need to register in advance via Evenea.

Why should you come?

Each year the SIMCHA Festival redefines the Jewish culture, and increases the awareness of the region’s multicultural heritage and promotes the idea of the Mutual Trust District in Wrocław. The rich artistic and educational agenda of the event allows the participants to immerse into the fascinating Jewish tradition, discover its diversity and obtain new inspirations. This unique Festival combines tradition and modernity, offering an incomparable musical, spiritual and intellectual experience.

Come and take part in the 26th Edition of the SIMCHA Jewish Culture Festival, which is not only an opportunity to learn about the rich Jewish tradition, but also to meet passionate and knowledgeable representatives of the world of culture, music and science. Join us in the celebrations of this unique cultural heritage which has been enriching our lives and the history of our cities throughout the centuries.

For more information and a detailed agenda of the Festival, please see the event’s website i.e. https://simcha.art.pl/