Jewish – Page 41 – tangential travel

May 29, 2017July 11, 2018

Warsaw Day 2

A brilliant tour of Polin with my host Michael Leiserowitz, official guide.

POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews – Wikipedia

POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews (Polish: Muzeum Historii Żydów Polskich) is a museum on the site of the former Warsaw Ghetto. The Hebrew word Polin in the museum’s name means, in English, either “Poland” or “rest here” and is related to a legend on the arrival of the first Jews in Poland.[1] The cornerstone was laid in 2007, and the museum was first opened on April 19, 2013.[2][3] The museum’s Core Exhibition opened in October 2014.[4] The museum features a multimedia narrative exhibition about the living Jewish community that flourished in Poland for a thousand years up to the Holocaust.[5] The building, a postmodern structure in glass, copper, and concrete, was designed by Finnish architects Rainer Mahlamäki and Ilmari Lahdelma.[6]

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/POLIN_Museum_of_the_History_of_Polish_Jews

With Lisa & Samuel Kassow & Michael Leiserowitz

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Temporary Exhibition – Jukebox, Jewkbox

Jukebox, Jewkbox! – history of popular music written on gramophone records

Newsletter

Source: www.polin.pl/en/news/2016/07/06/jukebox-jewkbox-history-of-popular-music-written-on-gramophone

The Resource Centre

Aleks and Magda

Praga – Wikipedia

Praga is a district of Warsaw, Poland. It is located on the east bank of the river Vistula. First mentioned in 1432, until 1791 it formed a separate town with its own city charter.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praga

Praga

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The streets of Warsaw

May 28, 2017

Warsaw Day 1 – Tour 17

My first day in Warsaw on this tour with my hosts Michael & Ruth Leiserowitz.

Michael is an official guide at POLIN and Ruth is an eminent German historian.

Ruth Leiserowitz – Wikipedia

Ruth Leiserowitz (born Ruth Kibelka, December 25, 1958, in Prenzlau, Brandenburg) is a German historian. Her work and study primarily deal with the wolf children, a group of German children orphaned at the end of World War II in East Prussia. Since 2009, she has been the deputy director of the German Historical Institute in Warsaw. In 2014, she was awarded the Cross of Merit First Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany by German president Joachim Gauck.[1]

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Leiserowitz

Michael and Ruth work with me on the the Kaliningrad and Sovetsk KehilaLinks Jewish websites for Jewishgen.org

Kaliningrad, Russia

Source: kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/kaliningrad/Home.html

Sovetsk, Russia

Source: kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/sovetsk/Home.html

Visit their Jews of East Prussia site:

Seiten zur jüdischen Geschichte in Ostpreussen – Jewish History in East Prussia

Source: www.judeninostpreussen.de/

Two updated important booklets for Warsaw and the Jewish Warsaw map.

Our first stop is Wilanow Palace

Wilanów Palace – Wikipedia

Wilanów Palace or Wilanowski Palace (Polish: pałac w Wilanowie, Polish pronunciation: [ˈpawat͡s vvilaˈnɔvjɛ]) is a royal palace located in the Wilanów district, Warsaw. Wilanów Palace survived Poland’s partitions and both World Wars, and so serves as a reminder of the culture of the Polish state as it was before the misfortunes of the 18th century.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilanów_Palace

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The Palace of Culture and Science

Palace of Culture and Science – Wikipedia

Constructed in 1955, the Palace of Culture and Science (Polish: Pałac Kultury i Nauki; abbreviated PKiN) is a notable high-rise building in Warsaw, Poland. It is the center for various companies, public institutions and cultural activities such as concerts, cinemas, theaters, libraries, sports clubs, universities, scientific institutions and authorities of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Motivated by Polish historicism and American art deco high-rise buildings, the PKiN was designed by Soviet architect Lev Rudnev in “Seven Sisters” style and is informally referred to as the Eighth Sister.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Culture_and_Science

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Warsaw – Wikipedia

Warsaw (Polish: Warszawa [varˈʂava] ( listen); see also other names) is the capital and largest city of Poland. It stands on the Vistula River in east-central Poland, roughly 260 kilometres (160 mi) from the Baltic Sea and 300 kilometres (190 mi) from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population is estimated at 1.750 million residents within a greater metropolitan area of 3.101 million residents,[3] which makes Warsaw the 9th most-populous capital city in the European Union. The city limits cover 516.9 square kilometres (199.6 sq mi), while the metropolitan area covers 6,100.43 square kilometres (2,355.39 sq mi).[4]

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw

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The Nozyk Synagogue

Nożyk Synagogue – Wikipedia

The Nożyk Synagogue (Polish: Synagoga Nożyków) is the only surviving prewar Jewish house of prayer in Warsaw, Poland. It was built in 1898-1902 and was restored after World War II. It is still operational and currently houses the Warsaw Jewish Commune, as well as other Jewish organizations.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nożyk_Synagogue

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May 9, 2017May 11, 2017

Zog Nit Keynmol – The Poem

Here is an idea for your school students or youth group:

Recite the poem, Zog Nit Keynmol, written by Hirsh Glik 20, in the Vilna ghetto in 1943.

Do it in your own language!

And then SHARE it with us!

The song is the anthem of the Survivors. With their rapidly diminishing numbers, we want our youth to continue the legacy.

Be creative like Giedrius Galvanauskas of Atzalynas Gymnasium in Kedainiai, Lithuania.

Inspired by his English teacher, Laima Ardaviciene, Giedrius used a Lithuanian translation, background music on (1) viola and (2) piano, with a backdrop of old images of his hometown, Kedainiai, and even added English subtitles.

The viola was played by Tzvi Friedl of Perth Australia.

Translated by Roza Tzvi Ben Litay and Sergey Kanovich

Wouldn’t it be great if you recited it in your own language and chose photos from your heritage town and then shared it around the world?

The viola version

The piano version

Here is Aaron Kremer’s English version by Freydl Mrocki of Shalom Aleichem College, Melbourne, Australia.

Tzvi Friedl on the viola

Atzalyno Gimnazija, Kedainiai, Lithuania

The students take me on a multicultural tour of Kedainai, the last stop being the two former synagogue complex, one of only a handful in Lithuania. The centre is run by Rimantas Zirgulis, director …

Source: elirab.me/my-bond-with-atzalyno-gimnazija-a-school-in-kedainiai-2/

May 5, 2017May 5, 2017

The Partisan Song in Australia

Sydney

Last week I was given the opportunity to talk to Year 10s at Moriah College.

My thanks to Jewish studies teacher Hilary Kahn for setting this up.

The presentation was on The Partisan Song Project.

Here are some selected slides from my presentation:

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Phillip Maisel

Some photos from Moriah College:

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With Hilary Kahn & David Borecki

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David Borecki at the Yom Hashoah Commemorations

Melbourne

Perth

With Heiny Ellert

Limmud Oz – Perth

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Dylan Kotkis

Tzvi Friedl

April 27, 2017

The Partisan Song Project News

Zog Nit Keynmol

New videos have arrived:

ORT Compilation

Mexico CIM ORT

King David High School Victory Park, Johannesburg

Press reports:

Australian Jewish News 27 April 2017

Lithuanian Jewish Community

ORT and Non-ORT Schools Join in Partisan Anthem Project

From the SASIG Newsletter

SA-SIG – Southern Africa Jewish Genealogy: SA-SIG Newsletter

The SA-SIG Newsletter

Source: www.jewishgen.org/safrica/newsletter/index.htm

Including:

Update on Southern African KehilaLinks sites

A reminder that there are a number of South African KehilaLinks pages which can be found on the JewishGen’s KehilaLinks project web site. (The KehilaLinks project provides a set of web pages which commemorate the places throughout the world where Jews have lived.)

The full list of South African KehilaLinks pages can be found at:

http://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/Asia.html

The list now includes the following towns: Benoni, Bloemfontein De Aar, Cape Town, Germiston, Graaff Reinet, Grahamstown, Kwekwe (Que Que) in Zimbabwe, Johannesburg, Kimberley, Muizenberg, Oudtshoorn Pietersburg, Port Elizabeth, Pretoria, Springs, Stellenbosch, Uniondale, Upington, and Witbank.

Eli Rabinowitz, who has created and maintains most of these KehilaLinks sites, is currently in the process of setting up the following new pages: Paarl, South Africa; Maputo, Mozambique; and Mauritius, Africa.

Eli invites you to send him your stories, memories, photos, family biographies, and articles on Jewish life in any of these places, or for any of the existing pages. As examples of the kind of material he is looking for, Eli suggests you refer to the following links:

http://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/kimberley

http://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/graaff_reinet/We rtheim.html

http://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/nasielsk/Kurtz.ht ml

You can find more information on Eli’s complete set of KehilaLink pages at:

KehilaLinks

You can contact Eli at eli@elirab.com

For reference, the KehilaLinks project home page can be found at:

http://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/

and

Lions Shul is a special place

The Lions shul is Johannesburg’s longest standing synagogue, still a vibrant, active, and dynamic congregation. The 108 year old synagogue is in pristine condition and the chavershaft (solidarity/equality) is warm and family-oriented. The services are inspirational and the ambiance magnificent.

A video about the synagogue can be found at:

A description of the synagogue on the Johannnesburg KehilaLinks page can be found at:

http://kehilalinks.jewishgen.org/johannesburg/Li ons_Shul.html

and

FIRST COUSINS REUNITED

The story of how Eli Rabinowitz finally found his first cousin, Zara Smushkovich, after being separated for over 35 years

We love hearing stories of families reunited through Geni. Recently, Eli Rabinowitz finally found his first cousin Zara Smushkovich after being separated for over 35 years! The discovery was made thanks to the help of a friendly person on Facebook who found the family tree on Geni.

Read the SA SIG newsletter link for more.

April 21, 2017April 21, 2017

Updates to the Partisan Song Project

The Lithuanian Jewish Community

Never Give Up

San Diego Jewish World

A new generation learns The Partisan Song

Smookler – South Africa

Eli is a Genealogist of note……….. Eli Rabinowitz – ‘Gib A Kuk’ at his blog…E-mazing news from ‘Der Heims’ & The ‘Beloved Country’…. http://elirab.me/

“Continue the Legacy of the Jewish Partisans and Survivors “From generation to generation” With less than a week to go to Yom Hashoah on 23/24 April, show your solidarity with Survivors by reciting the Partisan Song, Zog Nit Keynmol, in your own language” ……………….. YOM HASHOAH take place

April 19, 2017

Let’s Recite the Partisan Song on Yom Hashoah

Continue the Legacy of the Jewish Partisans and Survivors

“From generation to generation”

With less than a week to go to Yom Hashoah on 23/24 April, show your solidarity with Survivors by reciting the Partisan Song, Zog Nit Keynmol, in your own language.

Even better, record & share it on Facebook or Twitter. You can also Dropbox or email it to me at eli@elirab.com and I’ll upload it for you!

It can also be in a combination of languages such as Yiddish, Hebrew and English

Here are 15 different language versions for you to choose from:

http://elirab.me/lyrics/

Here is an example of a recitation:

Freidi Mrocki, a teacher at Shalom Aleichem College in Melbourne, recites Aaron Kremer’s English translation:

Want to sing or recite it in Yiddish, Hebrew & English?

Encourage participation by your children and grandchildren by learning the song and its meaning.

Encourage your school or shul choir to learn and to sing it.

We are inspired by Phillip Maisel:

More details at

Zog Nit Keynmol

April 6, 2017July 2, 2017

Teaching the Partisan Song to a New Generation

Recite and understand the meaning of the poem.

Zoe Nit Keynmol was written as a poem in Yiddish by 20 year old Hirsh Glik in the Vilna ghetto in 1943.

The words are powerful and inspirational.

It is the anthem of the Survivors. Our goal is to teach it to the next generation of school students so that the legacy can continue!

I have found translations in 14 other languages with some variations within these languages – see Lyrics below.

You can recite it as a poem as it was originally written!

Here is Freidi Mrocki, a teacher at Shalom Aleichem College in Melbourne, reciting Aaron Kremer’s English translation.

Zog Nit Keynmol – The Poem

Here is an idea for your school students or youth group: Recite the poem, Zog Nit Keynmol, written by Hirsh Glik 20, in the Vilna ghetto in 1943. Do it in your own language! And then SHARE it with …

Source: elirab.me/zog-nit-keynmol-the-poem/

Here is a combination of Yiddish, Hebrew and English.

Here it is being sung by the Herzlia School Vocal Ensemble in Cape Town during an online class with five schools in the Former Soviet Union in Kiev, Chisinau, Vilnius, Kedainiai and Kalvarija.

The ORT Videos

ORT Videos

King David High School Victory Park, Johannesburg

For more languages and versions, click on the link:

Lyrics

Lyrics in Different Languages English Aaron Cremer’s version Lithuanian Žydų Partizanų Daina arba Partizanų Himnas Mes Esame Čia Niekad nesakykite kad jūs išeinate į paskutinį kelią… Tik nie…

Source: elirab.me/lyrics/

Schools & Students Sing & Recite – We Share

We invite you, your school choir or group to sing or recite Zog Nit Keynmol, the Partisan Song. Please record it then share on YouTube, Facebook or Vimeo or send to me by Dropbox and I’ll pos…

Source: elirab.me/schools/

For more info, visit:

Zog Nit Keynmol

Menu Zog Nit Keynmol – Main Page – scroll down The Legacy of the Partisan Song Hirsh Glik by Phillip Maisel Schools & students sing or recite the anthem, record it and post it on…

Source: elirab.me/zog-nit-keynmol/

The Cape Jewish Chronicle

Finally, here is a full page article in the April edition of the Cape Jewish Chronicle, Cape Town, written by Tali Feinberg.

Source: cjc.org.za

Also on Facebook:

March 9, 2017March 9, 2017

Updated Zog Nit Keynmol

Hi All

I have added new items to my Jewish Partisan Song portal.

Click on the link – Zog Nit Keynmol below

Zog Nit Keynmol

I have additional resources thanks to the numerous people who wrote to me after I posted messages on JewishGen. Thanks so much.

Have a look at Other Resources as well as Our Vision for this project.

Please share this site with your contacts. You are welcome to subscribe to elirab.me.

Regards

Eli

March 5, 2017

Workshop at the Holocaust & Genocide Centre

On 15 February I gave a couple of workshops at the Johannesburg Holocaust and Genocide Centre.

One session was for survivors and the other for staff and members.

(L-R). Eli Rabinowitz & Don Krausz

This was the first time I had presented specifically to a group of survivors, although I had filmed several survivors’ testimonies in the past.

I showed photos from my trips to the Baltics & Eastern Europe as well as some videos from my Zog Nit Keynmol project for King David & Herzlia Schools.

The most noticeable outcome was the positive reaction to my initiative to get our youth learning and singing Zog Nit Keynmol, the Partisan Song.

(L-R). Eli, Veronica Phillips, Barbara Berman

For more details on Zog Nit Keynmol, please visit:

http://elirab.me

The two key videos to watch are:

the Phillip Maisel Interview

Herzlia’s Vocal Ensemble Sings:

Below is a video of Freidi Mrocki reciting the poem in English. Freidi is the teacher at Sholem Aleichem College in Melbourne, who recorded the interview with Phillip Maisel in 2015.