Karol Głębocki

I was born and raised in Wysokie Mazowieckie. Ever since I can remember, I would be fascinated by walking amongst mysterious headstones and the silence of the Jewish necropolis that had been forlorn for years. The local people would call the cemetery “the Jewish grove”. But it was only during my history studies at the university that I truly became interested in Jewish matters, while writing my MA theses about the history of Wysokie Mazowieckie parish. This was when I rediscovered “my Jewish cemetery”. This resurgence of my interest coincided with re-dedication of the site. I decided that it would make sense to remind local residents – and especially the young generation (I work in a school) – about the Jews that had once lived here. Since mid-19^th century, Jews comprised the majority of the town’s residents, contributing to its economic and cultural development; a fact that some people choose to overlook. I am a history and social science teacher in the Professional Development Center in Wysokie Mazowieckie. In my free time, I work as a guide to Podlasie region.

In 2007, I was honored to receive a diploma from the Israeli Embassy and the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw for my activism to preserve the Jewish heritage in Poland. In 2012, I received “Open Mind Certificate” (“Świadectwo Otwartego Umysłu”) – a distinction in a competition organized by Gazeta Wyborcza daily newspaper for uncovering the truth about the past and working towards a better future. In 2015, I was awarded the David and Anna Dlugie Kliger scholarship through Forum for Dialogue. Since 2006, I have initiated and coordinated cleanup works at the Jewish cemetery in Wysokie Mazowieckie. I also raise Polish-Jewish issues in the course of my lessons of history and social science. I also assist descendants of Jews from this areal search for their roots. It gives me great satisfaction to be the only person in the area to work in this field. I believe that through my work, more and more people in my town will realize that Jews lived here and contributed to our town’s history.

Activism

• Cleanup works at the Jewish cemetery in Wysokie Mazowieckie
• Guiding descendants of Jews from Wysokie Mazowieckie and the region