Jolanta Nicałek

My first encounter with Forum for Dialogue happened a few years ago in my hometown of Ulanów. Ulanów School Complex that had participated in School of Dialogue educational program, received a visit from a group of American Jews. Among them was Cheryl Fishbein, daughter of Mojżesz Fishbein and Adela Kofman, two born-and-bred Ulanowers. My neighbor, who teaches at this school, told me about the meeting and I was so curious I managed to invite myself in. Thus, I had the chance to participate in a prayer at the Jewish cemetery, a small walking tour through Ulanów with a group of schoolchildren who uncovered local history thanks to School of Dialogue. We held conversations over the dinner table and paid a visit to Janusz Dąbek’s Historical Museum, which has a sizable collection of Judaica including documents and items of everyday use. I met Cheryl over the dinner table and our friendship continues to this day. Professionally, I help my husband run a bakery. I also run a tiny bed and breakfast in Ujście in Janowskie Forest, where I invite urbanites to experience the beauty of nature. Together with Janusz Dąbek and Cheryl Fishbein, I established the Heritage (Dziedzictwo) foundation that aims to preserve the memory of Ulanów’s multicultural past as well as to promote historical knowledge among Poles and Jews with Polish roots about the pre-war Hassidic route. In a longer perspective, we plan to open a workshop center for people of different age and from different backgrounds that would foster understanding and promoting tolerance and dialogue between nations.

Thanks to our initiative, Ulanów’s Jewish cemetery was cleaned up and fenced; the maintenance works are not over yet, but we hope to complete this task next year. We offer information and provide humble accommodation to descendants of Ulanów’s Jews visiting our town. We sometimes host Hassidim, as Leżajsk is not far away. It gives me great joy to show around someone from Australia, who would like to see his grandparent’s birthplace. Sometimes genealogical research is required in order to be able to answer someone’s query about their ancestors. History has always been my passion and I find great joy in sharing my knowledge. During the conference Forum held for us this April, I had the opportunity to meet many Leaders of Dialogue. It was wonderful to meet people with shared interests and passion and to exchange stories. I was fascinated with their commitment. Due to my professional obligations, my opportunities for activism are greatly limited. Nevertheless, I find our actions meaningful, if only because prejudice and stereotypes blocking understanding between Poles and Jews still persist, especially in smaller towns, where the activism should be gradual yet consequent in its character.