Katarzyna Bielawska

I live in a region of Poland where people of different denominations and nationalities coexist – a true cultural melting pot. As a child, I would walk past a Jewish cemetery to visit my grandparents. My grandma and grandpa would often tell us fascinating stories filled with exotic names, strange words – about the synagogue, houses and professions that Jews of Narewka would have. Nachtul, Mouszka Judejło, Birenbaum, Hana and many others – these were my heroes from stories that seemed like fairy tales. I work in Narewka’s Community Center as a cultural affairs instructor. I studied pedagogy, history and archeology. What is my contribution to Polish-Jewish relations? I talk. Descendants of Narewka Jews come to visit my town from all over the world and they would like to talk to someone.

I am often the person that hears them out and – to the best of my abilities – answers their questions, assists in searching for family roots and presents Narewka’s Jewish history to them. These are extraordinary encounters. I recently started organizing meetings about Narewka’s Jewish history for local school students. I am also the person asked to speak out about local Jewish history in local media, participate in documentary film projects and newspaper reports, interviews, etc. My work helps overcome stereotypes. It demonstrates the importance of mutual understanding and respect for other cultures. To put it in lofty terms, I feel I am making the world a better place. To a certain extent, through meetings and educational initiatives I can work towards rebuilding the good Polish-Jewish relations that existed in the past but were then destroyed.

Activism