Kosher supervisors trained in Poland for the first time since the Holocaust
|
Poland's new kosher supervisors
|
Shavei Israel's ongoing involvement and support for the Hidden Jews of Poland has resulted in an unprecedented development: last week, 17 Polish Jews were officially certified as kosher supervisors - for the first time since the Holocaust. The new supervisors graduated from a three-day training seminar that was held in Krakow and organized by Shavei Israel.
If you were to look back just a few years, it would be hard to imagine a Polish Jewish community as flourishing, proud and unafraid that the demand for locally produced kosher food would rise so precipitously. But it has, and we expect that these new graduates will quickly be integrated into Poland's growing kosher food industry, which also supports a rise in Jewish tourism to Poland in recent years.
Enhancing kosher supervision in Poland is not just a practical matter for specific food products; it serves a more spiritual goal. "Most Polish Jews grew up unaware of the laws of keeping kosher," says Michael Freund, Shavei Israel's Chairman. "By training a cadre of kosher supervisors, we are helping Poland's Jews to reconnect with their heritage."
To find out more about this wonderful new development, please click here.
|
Video on the Hidden Jews of Poland
| Click to watch a video on the Hidden Jews of Poland |
Prior to the outbreak of World War II, Poland was home to more than 3,000,000 Jews.
Ninety percent of Polish Jewry was annihilated in the Holocaust, and post-war Communist oppression caused many of Poland's remaining Jews to flee. Those who stayed often had to hide their identities.
But since the downfall of the Iron Curtain, and Poland's transformation into a democracy, an increasing number of Poles have begun to discover their families' Jewish roots.
Click here to watch a video clip on the hidden Jews of Poland.
|