British Government strongly affirms support for Holocaust-era property restitution in Poland

The British Government has strongly reaffirmed its support for Holocaust-era property restitution in Poland and other countries, in reply to a question asked in the House of Lords by Baroness Ruth Deech. Read more

A chill wind from Poland

I’ve known Rafal Pankowski, the Polish academic and campaigner against anti-Semitism and racism, for almost 20 years, but I don’t think I’ve heard him sound as worried about the political situation in his country as I did when he addressed a seminar last week on Polish anti-Semitism. Read more

Truth is not selective: Poland vs. Netflix

Poland’s government won an important victory on the battleground of history last week. Read more

Shavuot in Lodz

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Polish prime minister: Restitution to Holocaust victims a ‘victory for Hitler’

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Friday that was Poland to pay restitution for those whose property was stolen in the Holocaust it would violate “international law and would also be a posthumous victory for Hitler;” therefore, “something like this will never happen.” Read more

Polish anti-Semitism is serious, but Yair Lapid is overreaching

Over the last year, Yair Lapid, the co-chair of Israel’s opposition Blue and White Party, has made several outspoken statements about Poland, Polish anti-Semitism and the Holocaust. Read more

World Jewish Congress condemns antisemitic effigy burning in Poland

Reacting to reports that on April 19th, an image of Judas Iscariot made to look like a stereotypical Jew had been hanged and burned in effigy in the town of Pruchnik in south-eastern Poland as a part of an Easter ritual with hundreds of people including children taking part, World Jewish Congress CEO Robert Singer expresses disgust and outrage at this latest blatantly antisemitic manifestation. Read more

WJC President Lauder decries deterioration in ties between Poland and Israel

World Jewish Congress  President Ronald S. Lauder commented on the rift between Israel and Poland. Read more

Former Chief Rabbi: Poles ‘shot selves in foot’ with Holocaust law

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Must Jews and Poles keep fighting about the Holocaust?

It’s never wise to get into an argument about the Holocaust with Yad Vashem…writes Jonathan S. Tobin/JNS. Read more

Polish moves to rescind criminal penalty from Holocaust Law

The World Jewish Congress has welcomed Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki’s decision to recommend to parliament that it reopen discussions on its new Holocaust Law so as to rescind criminal penalty for suggesting that Poles bore some responsibility for the destruction of Polish Jewry.  Read more

Losing the plot

In the northern hemisphere spring is arriving. In Israel it has sprung but in parts of the USA and in Europe/UK the winter thaw is delayed…writes Michael Kuttner. Read more

Post Purim hangovers

Once the Purim carnival festivities are over and the masks removed the real world again intrudes into our daily lives. Read more

Israeli lawmakers author counter-bill criminalising Polish Holocaust denial

In a direct response to a bill passed by Polish legislators criminalising terms that link Poland to any involvement of the heinous crimes in the Holocaust, 61 members of Israel’s Knesset co-sponsored new legislation whereby exonerating Polish involvement in crimes against humanity during World War II will be considered a form of illegal Holocaust denial. Read more

Despite Israeli, US opposition, Polish Senators pass bill criminalising terms linking Poland to the Holocaust

The Polish Senate passed a bill Wednesday criminalising statements linking Poland to the murder of Jews which occurred on its soil during the Holocaust, in an attempt to lay blame for the crimes that left more than 1 million Polish Jews dead during World War II squarely on German Nazis. Read more

Just when you think you have heard it all

It seems there is no limit when it comes to covering news about Israel and Jews. This week in particular has served up yet more examples of the absurdities we face…writes Michael Kuttner. Read more

Proposed Polish law “historical obfuscation”

The World Jewish Congress has strongly objected to a proposed new Polish law which would criminalise suggestions that Poland was responsible for Nazis crimes, calling it “an act of historical obfuscation and an attack on democracy.” Read more

Poland’s proposed restitution law ‘excludes vast majority of Holocaust survivors and heirs’

The World Jewish Congress has expressed “profound disappointment” in the Polish government’s proposed legislation for the restitution of confiscated property belong to Holocaust victims and their heirs. Read more

A Return to Polish Roots

According to filmmaker Simon Target, “it’s cool to be Jewish” in Poland today.

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A Pocket of Hope

Two Sydney Jewish film-makers and a soulful klezmer singer have launched a ‘crowd-funding’ campaign to help them tell an inspiring story which may help to stem the rising tide of resurgent anti-Semitism in Europe. Read more

Museum ready to illuminate millennium-long Jewish history of Poland…write Michele Algerian/JNS.org

Given that half of the 6 million Jews who died in the Holocaust came from Poland, many descendants of Polish Jews may be surprised to learn about the current hospitable environment for the Jewish population of their ancestors’ country. Read more

Musical reconciliation in Poland

Fay’s Journey’ (working title) is feature documentary in the making examining  the issues of reconciliation between young Jews and Poles members of the 3rd generation following WWII. Read more

Message for the Polish Government

The president of  the The Executive Council of Australian Jewry Dr Danny Lamm, has sent a message to the Polish Government following its rejection of legislating in favour of shechita. Read more