Jelenia Góra
Technical and General Education School Complex
in Jelenia Góra
Technical and General Education School Complex
in Jelenia Góra
Jews settled in Jelenia Góra probably in the first half of the 14th century. In the 15th century, they were expelled like other Jews from Silesia. They returned to live the town only in the 18th century, but it was only in the next century, when the Jews gained equal right, that the community began to thrive. According to the census, there were 35 Jews living in Jelenia Góra at that time. By the end of the century this number had risen to almost 400, which then decreased. Many Jewish organizations and schools were present in the town. There was an Israeli Women’s Union with 80 members, an Israeli Union for Funeral and Sick Care, Chevra Kadisha, a Jewish children’s holiday center, a Jewish Spa Hospital and a private Jewish school. The end of the 1930s was not a good period for the Jewish community in Jelenia Góra. During the so-called “Kristallnacht”, the Nazis destroyed the synagogue, the cemetery, many Jewish shops and factories. In 1939 only 67 Jews lived in the town. During the war Jews from Jelenia Góra were sent to transit camps in Tormensdorf, Grüssau and Riebnig. Many of them died later in the death camps in Auschwitz-Birkenau, Treblinka, Majdanek, Kulmfhof, Sachsenchausen and Ravensbrück. From 1944, there was a branch of the Gross-Rosen camp, Arbeitslager Hirschberg, in the town. The Jewish community in Jelenia Góra was reborn after the war. There were 420 Jews living in the town in 1946. They established the Municipal Jewish Committee, Jewish Health Society, the General Jewish School, the semi-internate and the Congregation of the Jewish Denomination.
One of the participants of the “School of Dialogue” program in Jelenia Góra wrote: “I was shocked to learn how much Jelenia Góra meant in Jewish history. There are places which are no longer indifferent to me when I look at them today. I also noticed that people around me know little about Jews in Jelenia Góra. After I told my parents and friends that the street was called Jewish, or that there was a synagogue or mikvah in (…), they were surprised and intrigued by it”. Although students taking part in the workshops lacked this knowledge about their town, they proved to the educators to be open and sensitive, as well as capable of reflection. This is how another student summed up her participation in the project: “These workshops gave me a lot to think about, I understood above all what duty of remembrance is”. Students were much focused during their work, and showed their commitment. The workshops turned out to be something more than just a non-standard local history calss. “We learned to listen to each other and respect each other’s views,” another participant wrote. The meetings with educators gave students an impulse to act, which they consistently implemented while preparing their project. “I understood that if young people forget and don’t care about it, the history, not only of the Jews, but of all people, would die. These workshops also taught me tolerance, respect and showed me the power of young people, if only they want to” – and the youth from Jelenia Góra wanted and showed what they were able to achieve.
They organized a walking tour for the fellow students and anyone interested to join in. 60 people turned out for the tour. Their efforts in promoting the event gave very good results. Students invited town representatives and school authorities, as well as the local media. They prepared leaflets and posters. They created a Facebook page entitled “Being in dialogue”. The school’s website also featured the initiation to the event.
During the walking tour entitled “Following the traces of the Menorah”, the organizers focused on eight places: a house on Wiejska Street, with a facade showing the Star of David, the former Judengasse Street (today’s Szkolna Street), a town building that once belonged to the Jewish owner Erenst Fleksaprza on Konopnicka Street, the place where the synagogue once stood, buildings of: Orphanage, Hava Georg Pinoff’s Department Store and a mikvah, as well as the Jewish cemetery and the area of the former branch of the Gross-Rosen camp on Wojewódzka Street in Cieplice. They lit candles at given stops. The tour participants were shown archival photographs of the places they were guided to. The tour participants appreciated the students’ efforts: “I must take note of this. I have lived here all my life and I did not have this knowledge”.
They were also moved by the stories presented by guides: “It’s so strange – people live here and then disappear. After all, there is no trace left of them. People should not disappear like this.”
The youth also prepared an exhibition about Jelenia Góra, showing its “present and past”. During the school’s Christmas market, they organized a Hanukkah stand with delicacies typical for the celebration of this holiday. They also submitted a petition to the city authorities to commemorate the site of the demolished synagogue and to renew the memorial site at the branch of Gross-Rosen concentration camp. They declared their willingness to help with clean-up. They invited friends from a nearby high school to join in for a class about the Jews of Jelenia Góra. The materials the students prepare for promotion of the “In the Footsteps of the Menorah” tour are available in three languages at the local Artistic Exhibition and Tourist Information Office. Students documented everything on their Facebook page: “Being in dialogue” and on the Youtube channel: “Following the traces of the Menorah”.
I have learned many interesting and, at the same time, sad things. Jewish history is a very difficult history, it contains many bad experiences, memories, feelings, as well as a beautiful culture in its own way. These workshops gave me a lot to think about, I understood above all what duty of remembrance is. It’s not only their history, but partly ours, all there is left to us is this knowledge, and they must be remembered, and in my opinion, it is very important.
Workshops participant
I had no idea that in the place where I live there are so many traces of the Jewish community! (….) What I learned during the workshops is that every person is different and people may value very different things. Everyone can be of a different orientation, religion, but still we should respect each other, show tolerance and kindness to one another.
Workshops participant
School:
Technical and General Education School Complex
Students:
Selected students from classes III
Local expert:
Cezary Wiklik, City Hall’s employee
Educators:
Iza Murawska, Tosia Stasiuk
In appreciation to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) for supporting this educational program. Through recovering the assets of the victims of the Holocaust, the Claims Conference enables organizations around the world to provide education about the Shoah and to preserve the memory of those who perished.
In appreciation to Friends of the Forum for supporting the School of Dialogue educational program.
