Saturday, July 14, 2007

In a strange twist of fate, Poland is having a Jewish revival. Suddenly, all things Jewish are hip and cool. The only thing missing is all the Jews.

During World War Two, even before Poland was invaded -- just on word that the Germans were coming -- Poles began gleefully killing their Jewish neighbors. The Nazi death camps found friendly territory in Poland. Post war, anti-Jewish pogroms continued the killing. And in 1968, an anti-Jewish purge drove most of the remaining Jews into exile.

Before the war there were 3.5 million Jews in Poland -- about 10% of the total population. Three million Polish Jews died in the holocaust. Others escaped. Today only about 10,000 Poles admit to being Jewish.

Before the war there were 70,000 Jews in Krakow. Today there are fewer than 300.

But today Jewish things are all the rage. Poles sing Jewish songs, dance Jewish dances and eat Jewish food. Klezmer bands play in the streets. Poles celebrate Passover, Hanukkah and Purim -- anytime they want. Krakow merchants have recreated the old Jewish ghetto, hanging Jewish signs on their shops. Tourists buy souvenir menorahs and carved wood figures of orthodox Jews.

Jewish festivals are held every year in Krakow, Warsaw, Wroclaw and Tarnow. The one in Krakow drew 20,000 people this year.

The only thing missing is -- the Jews.

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