|
Union of Jewish Religious Communitites in Poland
(Zwiazek Gmin Wyznaniowych Zydowskich w RP)
The Union was registered in 1993 as the successor to the Religious
Union of the Jewish Faith that had been founded in 1946. It operates on
the basis of the 1997 law regarding the state's relationship to Jewish
religious Communities and other internal legislation.
It is the legal successor to the prewar Communities, and represents
Polish Jews in their efforts to reclaim prewar property of the Jewish
Communities and other religious legal persons in restitution legal
claims. The aim of the Union is to organize the religious and cultural
life of the members of Communities in Poland.
In particular, the Union organizes religious services and cultivates
religious life, founds and maintains Jewish Communities, maintains
synagogues and prayer houses, kosher cafeterias, cemeteries, ritual
baths, and organizes ritual slaughter and supervises the supply of
kosher foods. The Union also maintains institutions having a religious
character, such as the chevra kaddisha - the brotherhoods made up of
volunteers who care for the dead. The Union also conducts far-reaching
social welfare activities and publishes magazines and books. The Union
is a partner to many state and other institutions in efforts to protect
the Jewish heritage in Poland and making historical monuments that are
part of Poland's heritage more accessible. The Union runs Jewish
schools, organizes courses, activities, seminars, conferences and
training sessions.
|
The Union is comprised of the eight Jewish
Communities in Warsaw, Wroclaw, Krakow, Lodz, Szczecin, Katowice,
Bielsko-Biala and Legnica. Smaller Jewish groups have Union branch
offices. In addition to having its own funds, the Union also receives
support from Joint (JDC); specific projects are supported by the
Ministry of Culture and Art and other sponsors.
The Union and Jewish Communities gather Jewish adults, and those of
Jewish heritage who do not confess another faith, who are Polish
citizens and live in Poland. Piotr Kadlcik is the head the Union.
Union representatives participate in the European Jewish Congress,
the European Council of Jewish Communities, the Foundation for the
Protection of Jewish Heritage in Poland, the American Jewish Committee
(AJC), the Polish National Convention of Restitution Organizations in
Poland, and the World Federation of Polish Jews.
The Union is the main Jewish institutional partner in Poland for
many institutions, organizations, associations, Churches and religious
unions.
(pc/cm)
Zwiazek Gmin Wyznaniowych Zydowskich w RP
ul. Twarda 6
00-104 Warsaw
Tel: +48 22 620-06-76
Tel: +48 22 620-43-24
Fax: +48 22 620-10-37
|
|
MAIN PAGE